Gordon Lee Goodell

Oct 19, 1952 -

Apr 3, 2020

Gordon Lee Goodell, 67, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020, after a 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Gordon is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Joyce; two sons, Jake and Kyle (Nikki); and his grandchildren, Tristan and Scarlett. Gordon was born in Newport, Ore., growing up on the Oregon coast. He and his family moved to Alaska in 1983, for "five years" and ended up spending 37.

Gordon loved baseball, traveling the states in his RV with his wife, reading books on the beach in Hawaii, fishing, cooking and history. Gordon was an excellent cook, and always wanted to get the family together for dinner especially on holidays where he and his son Kyle, a local chef, would cook family meals together. He worked as a business owner for several decades owning two heavy equipment repair businesses, moving into management at a material handling company before retiring.

He spent his last two years making plans of trips to take, when to go fishing on the Kenai, spending time with family and making improvements around the house. Gordon always took care of everyone, especially his wife and children. He would think of ways he could make their life better. Often he would reach out just to say he made a giant pot of seafood gumbo, and everyone needed to come over and get some to go. He constantly looked for ways to show those he loved that he cared, and improve their lives.

He was a devoted supporter of his children, and always pushed them to succeed.

The family would spend weekends at Big Lake with friends playing in the sun. Gordon loved to be outside; his idea of a great day was fishing with family or good friends, smoking a cigar on a quiet lake with no one else around to spook the fish. A former high school and college football, basketball and baseball player himself, he coached his boys for years playing baseball. His teams usually won. Though his expectations for his players were high, they were always attainable.

Thank you to the compassionate and professional medical personnel at Providence Hospice and ANMC for providing the care they offered and making the twilight of his life as comfortable as it could be. The family would especially like to thank Dr. Anu and Dr. Luke Liu.

At this time a service date has not been set. When conditions allow, a celebration with friends and family will be determined.