David Klosterman

Nov 27, 1941 -

Jun 25, 2024

Dave was born to Peter and Edna Klosterman on Nov. 27, 1941, in Minot, N.D.

The family eventually moved to Oak Ridge, Ore., where he completed high school, excelling in basketball and track. He worked for the local timber company, then spent a couple of years at Willamette University before marrying his high school sweetheart, Karen. He was drafted into the Navy and went to Vietnam as a corpsman with the Marines, where he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart Medal. When he returned to San Diego, Calif., he went to flight school, received his ratings and spent several years training pilots for commercial airlines. During this time he also had the honor of meeting noted philosopher, psychologist, neurologist, Dr. Viktor Frankl who learned to fly under Dave's tutelage. They remained friends for many years.

Around 1972, Dave and his buddy mechanic, Art Conchin, decided to invest in air carrier operations in Anchorage, Alaska, by purchasing Alaska Bush Carrier Inc. on Lake Hood from Lloyd Hall. They started out in a small frame office and a Quonset hanger, flying and maintaining float planes in summer and a ski plane in winter. Hunters, fishermen, gold miners, floaters, lodge owners and tourists relied on Dave for transport to their destination. ABC hangar and office building, which stands to this day, was built in mid-1970s and became the bustling center of his world. Dave has two sons, Kellan and Chris, who grew up on Lake Hood and learned to fly at an early age. He was extremely proud of both boys who have become a vital part of aviation in Alaska.

Over the years Dave tried his hand at other ventures in Anchorage - The Frisco Bar, Doubledays Sports Bar, The Pines Club and acted out the dashing Alaskan outdoorsman in the Prinz Brau commercials. In 1995, he decided to move to eastern Washington state to become a rancher and raise horses. He was very active in the Spokane and Deer Park Masonic Lodge as well as the Shriners while in Washington. He enjoyed the life of the gentleman farmer, but decided because of increasing numbers of grandchildren and declining health to return to Anchorage in 2020 to be closer to family and old friends.

Dave's favorite activity was hangar stalking - waiting for the birds to return from their latest flight. Knowing that the airplanes were back in the hangar and his beloved pilots were safe on the ground, his day was complete.

Dave made his last flight in the back of the airplane in early May 2024, when he was invited on a Veteran's Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., accompanied by his son Kellan. He closed his eyes for the last time on June 25, 2024, at the age of 82. Sleep well.

Dave is survived by sons, Kellan and Christopher Klosterman of Anchorage; daughters-in-law, Beatrice Menz and Erica Madison; grandkids, Wayland, Archer, Alden and Ivan; former wife and friend, Pat Daoust of Anchorage; sisters, Karen Clark of Stayton, Ore., and Sherry Klosterman of Oak Ridge, Ore.; brother, Dennis Klosterman of Junction City, Ore.; and several nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be forthcoming in fall 2024.