Jeffrey Allen Cline

Jeffrey Allen Cline, 49, died Oct. 3, 2012, surrounded by his devoted family at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center after an illness due to an accident.

A celebration of his life was held at 4 p.m., Oct. 7 at Grouse Ridge Shooting Club on Wasilla-Fishhook Road. The family invites everyone who knew him to join them and share their favorite stories.

Jeff was born Feb. 25, 1963, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, to Gwendolyn and Gerald Cline. He grew up in Montana and moved to Alaska in 1984.

Jeff’s love for Alaska revolved around its hunting and fishing adventures. He spent most of his free time sharing stories of those adventures with his family. His favorite trips included taking his son on his first moose hunt on the Koyukuk River, acting as a personal guide to his wife for sheep, caribou and moose, and numerous fishing trips on rivers throughout Alaska with family, friends and coworkers. Jeff loved the challenges of bow hunting and always provided game meat for his family. He grew up hunting whitetails in Montana and never lost his enthusiasm for the trophy buck. One of his many talents was that of an artist. Jeff loved to carve realistic scenes into the horns and antlers of the game animals he brought home.

Jeff attended most of his daughter Rachael’s soccer games and was her biggest fan. His voice could always be heard above all the others as he coached her from the sidelines. He also assisted with his son Colton’s football team and never missed his clay sporting target events.

He was an excellent cook and has a gift with grilling; he was always up for a bonfire or cooking steaks for friends on the barbecue. Family and friends enjoyed his sense of humor and, even in illness – Jeff kept everyone laughing.

Jeff had worked at Matanuska Telephone Association as a cable maintenance splicer since 2003. He loved his job and felt a personal friendship with each of the guys in his work group. He previously served in the Air Force for five years after attending Butte College of Mining and was exceptionally proud of Rachael’s choice to follow in his footsteps with her recent enlistment into the Air Force.

He is survived by his wife, Moneak; daughter, Rachael; son, Colton; mother, Gwen Esler; brothers, Scott and Steven; as well as many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald A. Cline. 

His ashes will be scattered next summer at Hatcher Pass, where is father’s ashes lay.

In lieu of flowers, an account has been established at Alaska USA Federal Credit Union for his children.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel and Crematory, Wasilla.