Petter Jahnsen

Mar 20, 2024

Petter unexpectedly passed away in March 2024, leaving a devastating void in the lives of his family, friends and colleagues.

Petter was the son of Norwegian immigrants who came to America to find a safe place to raise a family. They found that idyllic place in Washington on a small island in the Puget Sound. It was a great place to grow up and as a teenager he considered himself an "island hippie boy."

After college, he left Washington to follow his then girlfriend and now wife to Alaska. Alaska became his home. He loved everything about Alaska, and he believed in the promise and possibilities of this state. It was in Alaska that he honed his trade in the financial world. He worked for National Bank of Alaska, Alaska Permanent Capital Management and finally LaTash Investments. He liked to refer to himself as a "bond geek" and he was a Bloomberg fanatic. One of his passions was teaching others about investing as means of bettering their lives. He shared his investing knowledge with others in the community by being on the board of Hope Community Resources, AWAIC Foundation board and the UA Foundation board.

Family and friends were precious gifts to Petter. He was a dedicated brother, wonderful father, a loving husband, a supportive uncle and a dependable friend. He had an annoying way of always being optimistic and looking for the brighter side of things. He was a lifelong learner and in his spare time he loved to fish in any puddle, creek, stream, lake or bay.

On May 17, 2024, Norwegian Independence Day, at 3 p.m. at O'Malley's on the Green, we will joyfully celebrate the life of Petter Jahnsen. Please join his family as we raise a glass and "skal" Petter!

If you wish to make a donation in Petter's name, please consider Hope Community Resources or AWAIC. He would be honored if you donated to any nonprofit organization that supports our community.