When old man winter forced him indoors, he enjoyed reading Thoreau and Leopold, both of which he was fond of quoting in his journals. Along with a biography composed by his friend Sam Keith, Proennekes notepads and camera footage were later turned into a documentary, Alone in the Wilderness, which shows Proennekes simple lifestyle in all its glory. No one holds a more intimate knowledge of Dick's handcrafted life than Monroe, and just as Dick shared his life through letters and film, Monroe knew he had a responsibility to share all that he had learned. memorial page for William Christian Proenneke (1880-1972), Find a Grave Memorial ID 126666622, citing Primrose Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa , USA . In 1978, he was featured in the PBS documentary Alaska: The Closing Frontier, where he advocated preservation and quoted Thoreau: In wildness is the preservation of the world.. You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our, (Photo by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, H-2190, catalog number LACL 3512, photo by Richard Proenneke), (Photo by Lake Clark National Park Service), (Photo by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, catalog number LACL 2166, photo by Richard Proenneke), (Photo by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, H-2167, catalog number LACL 3512, photo by Richard Proenneke), (Photo by Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, H-2342, catalog number LACL 3512, photo by Richard Proenneke), ENTER TO WIN: Free Gun Friday > Springfield Armory Hellion 5.56 Rifle * Trijicon RMR Red Dot * Black Hills Ammo *. In addition, Dick sought to improve his mental state as well. Add Richard's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. Richard was excited about getting back to Twin Lakes spending nine weeks on this trip in 1965. I felt so good, he continued, I just went ahead and did 100.. Share memories and family stories, photos, or ask questions. Everything that came in he either hauled back out or re-proposed in some form or another. about Richard Proenneke When is his birthday? Dick on the other hand was a man of action, putting Thoreaus (and his own) ideas into practice for nearly 30 years. From his first visit to Twin Lakes in 1962, Proenneke kept a journal. In 2005, the National Park Service and the Alaska Natural History Association published More Readings From One Man's Wilderness, another volume of Proenneke's journal entries. A Century of Impact is a 192-page hardbound treasure celebrating NPCAs first 100 years of protecting Americas national parks. In 1969, Dick turned over his journals to friend Sam Keith. [3][1]:xiii The year of Proenneke's birth is often given as 1917, but social security and census records note Richard Louis Proenneke was born in Primrose, Harrison Township, Lee County, Iowa, on May 4, 1916. Copyright 2018 The Richard Proenneke Store - All Rights Reserved. The world is full of such things., Proenneke left Twin Lakes in 1998, when he was 82, to move in with his brother in California. While working for a defense contractor at Cape Chiniak, Proenneke met Gale Carrithers. NOW AVAILABLE! Dick Proenneke, who had never caught as much as a cold, contracted rheumatic fever while stationed in San Francisco. Needless to say, Proennekes cabin didnt come with easy access to electricity. He moved near Twin Lakes and built a log cabin on its shores all by himself. We hiked and snowshoed miles and miles. He had already made arrangements to utilize a nearby cabin belonging to retired Navy Captain Spike Carrithers and his wife Hope as his temporary shelter while he was building his own cabin. He documented his solitary life in journals, photographs and videos, which became a treasure trove for naturalists. That summer, during my patrols, I flew over and landed at Twin Lakes a number of times. In October of 1976, Dick nearly met an untimely demise while flying south to Iowa. He searched the area and soon found some monofilament fishing line and a discarded beer can. IN 1968, two years before I arrived in Alaska as a newborn, a 51-year-old heavy-machine operator named Dick Proenneke decided to build a cabin on the remote shores of Twin Lakes and live out his . I was at Dicks place the day the associate directors visited. writes 'I am writing this letter from a deep need to find within myself. Thank-you for keeping his memory alive and for expanding the resources that further document his life. View obituary. next to their name to remove from the family tree. Bob Swerer produced the video "The Frozen North" in 2006. Some parks are using reservation systems to manage crowds and ensure visitor access. Your tax-deductible membership donation of $25 or more entitles. The early 1980s must have been an anxious time for Dick and many others who lived inside the boundaries of newly created parks and preserves. Dick eventually came to view the National Park Service as the lesser of two evils. They just worked on my senses. Gods blessings on you.' But Richard Proenneke didnt just survive in this harsh environment he thrived. Port Alsworth, He also worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service at King Salmon on the Alaska Peninsula for some time. You can read this and other stories about history, nature, culture, art, conservation, travel, science and more in National Parks magazine. Not that he was ever a troubled man, but a lifetime spent working on parts instead of the whole project was not his cup of tea. when he died at the age of 86. Proenneke spent the next several years working throughout Alaska as both a salmon fisherman and diesel technician. (2005), Author: Richard L. Proenneke, Branson, John B., ed. The finished home included a chimney, bunk bed, and large window overlooking the water. Dick would stay on at Twin Lakes into the late 1990s, spending a little more time down south every year. He writes 'I just want someone who knows how to live life to its fullest to show me how to stay alive,' end of quote. From hunter to conservationist - explore the evolution of Richard L. Proenneke's wilderness ethos. He was very welcoming and very friendly, and he helped us out with all kinds of things. You need to do something about that, Pat, Dick told me. Beginning in Hong Kong then spreading to Europe, the crash then hit the United States. He lived in complete isolation for 30 years. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. He lived alone in the mountains of the arctic from 1969 through 1999! He encouraged Proenneke to use the site instead. The landscape commemorates the life of Richard L. Proenneke, a legendary writer, wildlife photographer, and conservationist who lived alone in a cabin he built by hand. Against his doctors advice, he returned to work on the sheep ranch in Oregon. Hardly a sedentary retirement, he was up before dawn each and every morning. Proenneke family member is 84. Who is Richard Proenneke to you? The site is a popular attraction for many who want to personally experience parts of Proenneke's life and values. Did Richard finish grade school, get a GED, go to high school, get a college degree or masters? . (Running time approx. Today, Twin Lakes is best known for being Proennekes private retirement home. By the next summer he was back in Alaska. 1 death record. No, oh no, Dick would quickly command. Richard shot film throughout the entire stay at Twin Lakes which began on Aug. 8th, capturing on film the people we have come to know through reading Richards writings. One sunny day, Dick and I were relaxing on his well-raked beach enjoying a little chat. The March was organized to address "the ills of black communities and call for unity and revitalization of African American communities". The Early Years: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke, 1967-1973, More Readings From One Man's Wilderness: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke, 1974-1980. An experienced solo traveler and NPCA staff member offers pro tips to make the most of your park visit. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Cassandra Faye Shaffer to show support. I first met Dick in 1986 when my former husband Gary Titus and I bought one of the two private property in-holdings on upper Twin Lakes, across from Dicks place. July of 1977 would find him back home at Twin Lakes. Although his needs were few, he did receive the occasional supply drop. Dicks brother Raymond collected both Dick and the Arctic Tern to recuperate at his home in California. A conservationist at heart, Dick Proenneke wished to see the Twin Lakes area protected as well, but he was unsure about the Park Services intentions. a After an eye injury that threatened to leave him blind in the late 1960s Proenneke wanted to put down roots far from civilization by building his own cabin amid the natural beauty of the Twin Lakes region. I was not sure it was true, but I had been told that if Dick liked and accepted you, he would invite you for a cup of tea. So his clock was behind mine. For the time being, he decided to move north, where the forests were. Thinking of exploring a national park by yourself? "I have found that some of the simplest things have given me the most pleasure. Everyone, it seemed, had a story about him, and the Bennetts decided to collect some of them before it was too late. A view of the cabin and raised storage shed from the lake. He had brought along his cameras in the hopes of filming his adventure and capturing as much of the areas wildlife he could find. It was the last time he would walk unassisted for another six months. Two New Richard Proenneke DVD Documentaries are here! They rode west and worked the wheat harvest in Oklahoma, then on to pick apples in Oregon. He recorded the building process on film. During his convalescence the war ended and he was given a medical discharge from the Navy in 1945. On May 21, 1968, Richard "Dick" Proenneke arrived at Twin Lakes, Alaska with a few simple hand tools and the intention to build a simple homestead for his retirement. Richard L Proenneke lived Richard's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Proenneke family tree. Finally, Will asked, What are you going to do?, Dick replied, Oh, Im going to go visit a seamstress. He handed his clipboard to Will, turned toward the lake and took off. It was a little ironic, considering Proenneke had technically never owned the land on which he lived. More than once he verbally confronted them over leaving behind trash or useable meat. Through the 1980s, Dick would spend more and more time with his journals, documenting everything he noticed in his graceful cursive script. Protecting Our Future. Called the National Defense Act of 1916, the national law expanded the National Guard and Army (the Army added an aviation unit), created the Reserves, and gave the President expanded authority to federalize the National Guard. Not long after, he and a friend set out to see the country. However, in spare time, he kept meteorological records and monitored movements of animal, as well as human hunters in the area, and often assisted the National Park Service in apprehending poachers. He willed his cabin to the National Park Service, and it remains a popular visitor attraction in the still-remote Twin Lakes region of Lake Clark National Park.[8][2]. Cat Outta Hell: Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP is Poised to Pounce, 10 Key Tips to Clearing Corners That May Save Your Ass, Use Box Breathing Like Chris Hemsworth to Calm Down & Make The Shot, Zeroing Rifles & Pistols: Getting to & Maintaining Zeroed Sights, VIDEO: SIG Sauers Lena Miculek Debates .380 Vs 9mm for Defense. Remembering Richard Proenneke. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. In 2016 and 2018, respectively, A life in Full Stride: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 1981-1985 and Your Life here is an Inspiration: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 19861991 were published. Groups applaud regulation that would reduce pollution from Texas coal plants. Bob edited the film and added sound to create this fascinating film of one man living alone in the Alaska wilderness. Richard Louis Proenneke (/prnki/; May 4, 1916 April 20, 2003) was an American self-educated naturalist, conservationist, writer, and wildlife photographer who, from the age of about 51, lived alone for nearly thirty years (19681998) in the mountains of Alaska in a log cabin that he constructed by hand near the shore of Twin Lakes. Thoreau was no doubt a great philosopher, but in truth he only spent two years on Walden Pond. The fireplace and flue were made from stones he dug from around the site and mortared in place to create the chimney and hearth. In 1999, 82-year-old Richard Proenneke left his cabin and came to live with his brother Jake in Hemet, California. This was the second time in his life he was laid up by a serious injury or illness. Richard Proenneke would be 106 years old if he was . Carrithers and his wife, Hope, were building a cabin at Twin Lakes on what was then Bureau of Land Management land. Too many men work on parts of things. Cassandra Faye Shaffer Obituary. Proenneke received immense public recognition in 1973 when his journals and photographs were included in the book One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey. The map was so full of holes from past pin placement that it looked like one of those old-time punchboards. I wonder what he would think about all of this? The cattle may not have worked out, but when the naval station on the island learned of Proennekes capabilities, he was immediately put to work as a dieselmechanic. If he ever fell out of the canoe he used for fishing, he would instantly freeze to death in the icy water. I took off my boots and Dick noticed how callused the balls of my feet were. Back in the 60s, however, people knew it only as a was a complex of deep blue lakes nestled between tall, snow-covered mountains. Maybe it rubs off on them during their stints in Washington, like spruce pollen on a moose. He ends by writing, 'I thank you for your time. Wikimedia CommonsDick Proenneke spent several years in the Alaskan city of Kodiak before moving up to Twin Lakes. Thanks to his carpenting skills, Proenneke was able to construct a cozy cabin from trees he cut and carved on his own. He made a film record of his solitary life which was later re-edited and made into the documentary Alone in the Wilderness. Unable to restart the iced-up engine, he made a forced landing outside of Copper Center, Alaska. About 45 feet east of the cabin, he built a woodshed-cum-outhouse with a slanting shed roof, modeled after Adirondack shelters. Nonetheless, he had become such an integral part of the parks ecosystem that the rangers had trouble imagining life without him. A few feet to the south, he also built a 6-foot by 4-foot raised log cache, supported on four 9-foot-long wooden poles. That glacier doesnt have a name. She was 64. Authors: Keith, Sam and Proenneke, Richard (1973, 2013), Author: Richard L. Proenneke, Branson, John B., ed. These records include but are not limited to obituary care and filing for lee county, contiguous counties, and local Illinois and Missouri obituaries. Biographies are our place to remember and discover more about the people important to us. 10 Outdoor Survival Skills That Everyone Should Master. The Early Years: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 19671973 was published by Alaska Geographic in 2010. After a little while, it was clear the visitors from California wanted to keep moving, so they quickly left to make their way down the mountain and back to their boat. What is Richard's ethnicity and where did his parents, grandparents & great-grandparents come from? The source of Sam Keith's book "One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey," Dick Proenneke embodies humanity's fascination with wilderness. The rumor has become fact: Hornady has expanded its Precision Rifle Cartridge family to 7mm. In his time at Twin Lakes he would fill some 100-pounds worth of notebooks. But what about the winter? Ill lose some sleep thinking about that one . Despite his remote location and fierce independence, Dick was not a hermit; he maintained friendships and wrote back to anyone who sent him a letter. Select the pencil to add details. Dick had lots of time to think about the importance of his physical health that winter. Invite family and friends to share what they know about Richard L Proenneke. He spent almost two years at Pearl Harbor and was later stationed in San Francisco waiting for a new ship assignment. Anyone wishing to keep up with him in the rugged terrain would most certainly sleep well that night. In the same speech, he outlined the benefits of democracy which he said were economic opportunity, employment, social security, and the promise of "adequate health care". Well, maybe take the Klepper kayak over to the other side and see if berries are ripe. Some guests would be a little timid at the prospect of a screaming gray jay landing on them, and they would just place the cracker in the palm of their hands. Richard E. Crotty February 3, 2023. He said, Well, they got off that airplane, introduced themselves as director this and director that and then called me by my first name like we went to school together.. The publication of his 1968-1969 journals in 1973, "One Man's Wilderness," was largely responsible for making Proenneke a public figure - and putting Twin Lakes on the map. At this age, Proennekes longing for a quiet life had to contend with his passion for gadgetry. Betty Sue is survived by two daughters, Lynn Markworth and Audrey Dyer and five grandchildren. Although his needs were few, he did receive the occasional supply drop. Being together was always very comfortable, whether conversation came or not. (2016), Author: Richard L. Proenneke, Branson, John B., ed. Volume I "From The Heartland To the Great Northwest" follows Richard from his Homestead in Primrose IA to the Wilkinson Ranch in Heppner OR, and on to Portland, OR. In his minimalistic life he needed few material things. Instead, he was a simple man, in harmony with his surroundings and perfectly content with what the land provided him. The very first known Journal kept and original film Richard shot at Twin Lakes in 1965! Ethical subsistence hunters, on the other hand, could always count on Proennekes help packing out and caring for game. He next went back to school to prepare himself for a career as a diesel mechanic. AK Select " [relationship]" Each morning would begin the same way, a hot breakfast, then outside to feed his welfare birds and a squirrel named Freddy. AncientFaces is a place where our memories & family stories live. But unlike that bookin which Keith frequently modified Proenneke's writing styleThe Early Years presents Proenneke's journals with minimal or no modification. (He never had valid title to the land, but some park administrators consider the cabin a gift nonetheless.). Born in rural Iowa in 1916, Dick was a child of the Great Depression. F.A.Q. Friends can be as close as family. My backyard was a mountain, my front yard was a river and my best friends were the trails. I knew when I flew out that I might not see him again, and that turned out to be the case. Mechanically gifted from an early age, the old bike was the perfect tinker toy. Then, Proenneke came along. That need has surfaced itself in my life as my ultimate goal. In lieu of a fridge, Proenneke kept his food stored in containers he would bury deep underground so they wouldnt freeze during the seven months of severe winter. He said, Well, you arrived just after spring cleaning. How so? I asked. Dick meticulously recorded his observations of weather, wildlife, and even other human visitors. He was a good friend and I miss our friendship and letter exchanges. He briefly attended high school but dropped out after just two years. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. During those summers, from 2008 to 2014, they found that many visitors asked them a variation of the same question: What was Dick really like? It actually wasnt all that hard to answer: Although he lived by himself, Proenneke interacted with many people pilots, hunters, fishermen, neighbors, park rangers and as his legendary status grew, more and more visitors traveled to the far reaches of the park to meet him. Volume I. Without a doubt, Dick Proenneke's One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey is as memorable and captivating as any I've read in my five decades of reading. Peoria Remembers, powered by Legacy.com, is the most timely and comprehensive collection of Peoria obituaries and local obituaries from the Peoria area, updated regularly throughout the day as . Proenneke would have turned 100 last year; we are pleased to mark the anniversary by publishing some remembrances adapted from the book. in the family tree section to add relatives, or press the "X" Richard was fourth of his parents' six children. When its all said and done, what more could you ask for? Dick seemed more frail than Id seen him before, but we still took a hike up to see the Balancing Rock. When I moved back north to Alaska in 1992 to work as the pilot for a fishing lodge, Id frequently take guests to see Dick. With the exception of a handful of nails, tar paper and some plastic sheeting, all the materials came from his surroundings. Dick lived his life at Twin Lakes with the same spirit he used to build his cabin, with purposeful intent. On one such occasion he tracked down a large caribou that had been shot through a front and hind leg and salvaged the meat for himself, finishing the job the lazy hunter refused to do. Plan your trip to the home of one of Alaska's foremost wilderness icons. But its understandable that back then, Dick was apprehensive whenever high-ranking park officials came to his cabin. Canoeing with Dick was easy. View Lake Clark's entire online museum collections which includes some of Richard Proenneke's belongings. He had two brothers, Robert and Raymond (Jake), and three sisters, Helen, Lorene, and Florence. In our collection of film taken by Richard and Raymond Proenneke was film labeled 1965 Twin Lakes. Proenneke represents in his own person the gifts and talents given to him by God, as well as the wisdom acquired and developed through his own efforts and the education afforded him by a life in the civilized world. Dick always left a map of the area on the cabin table and a flagged pin to show exactly where he intended to go that day. He used thin plastic panels for the windows, while the handmade Dutch door was secured by wooden hinges and a wooden lock. This section is to introduce Richard Proenneke with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. Watch Proenneke's last visit to his cabin at Upper Twin Lake in the year 2000 at the age of 84. Using simple handheld tools, many of which hed fashioned himself, he constructed a log cabin on the edge of Upper Twin Lake and went on to live in his expertly crafted home, alone, for the next 30 years. Proenneke's cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Was I equal to everything this wild land could throw at me? he wrote in his diary. Sturdy and modest, it measures 11 by 14 feet and wouldbe his home for the next 30 years. The day after my birthday, we went to the other side of the lake and picked blueberries. Since reading my book he wonders if I would take him on as an apprentice. He said that he had caught a lake trout that morning and rather than throw away the insides, he put them on a hook and figured he would catch a burbot for another meal. Subscribe to National Parks Magazinenow, 2023 National Parks Conservation Association, Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, Yellowstone Bourbon Recognized by National Parks Conservation Association with National Park Defender Award, EPA Proposes Strong Rule to Curb Haze in National Parks, 8 Things to Know Before Your First Solo National Park Trip, Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We would just show up, and if he was there, Dick would give us a little tour of his place, explain his daily routine and pose for pictures. 1st edition: 2016, Read More Books or Watch More Films About Dick Proenneke. There were few comforts to be had in the way of material things during this time, but little was ever accomplished by complaining. Next, he used his knife to cut a narrow wedge-shaped piece of metal out of that beer can, and he rolled it up tight in the shape of a needle. Jerry and Jeanette Mills and my dog Trapper made the hike. I first met Dick in the summer of 1979. Following his discharge from the Navy, Proenneke went to school to become a diesel mechanic. He died in April 20, 2003. Though hes long dead, his cabin has since become a monument for survivalists and conservationists alike to this day. BY ANCESTRY.COM. Actors : Dick Proenneke Producers : Bob Swerer Studio : Bob Swerer Productions ASIN : B0009PUAFG Number of discs : 1 Best Sellers Rank: #12,150 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV) #7,331 in DVD Customer Reviews: 1,056 ratings Videos Upload your video Interestingly, Dick Proenneke didnt breathe his last breath overlooking Twin Lakes. When I worked at Lake Clark in the summers of 1990 and 1991, Dick and I would check in with each other on the radio most mornings. After 56 years, Richards first handwritten Journal has found its way back to his film. My partner, Tim Wingate, and I would be flown to Twin Lakes for a variety of assignments. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Cassandra Faye Shaffer (Peoria, Illinois), who passed away on April 21, 2023, at the age of 55, leaving to mourn family and friends. Unfortunately, he contracted rheumatic fever while hiking a mountain near San Francisco, following which he was hospitalized at Norco Naval Hospital. In addition, he had a keen mind and loved to learn, mostly through observation. Alison Woodings never returned to Twin Lakes, but she corresponded with Dick for many years. He had suffered severe damage to his lower spine and numerous lacerations to his face. What are you doing?. [4][6], In 1999, at age 83, Proenneke left his cabin and moved to Hemet, California, where he lived the remainder of his life with his brother Raymond "Jake" Proenneke. Obituary guidelines; Submit Death Notice; Submit an Obituary . Richard Proenneke's birthday is on May 4, 1916. Richard Proenneke, whose friends called him Dick, is an icon of wilderness values and an inspiration to those who value simplicity, direct connection with nature, self-reliance, and ingenuity. Dick's wilderness ethic was simple: "Twin Lakes and the wildlife therein should not suffer for his presence.". Dick would work for the next 14 years on Kodiak. Free Shipping on all orders within the United States.
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