David Jaeger

Jun 22, 1937 -

Jul 8, 2024

Longtime Anchorage, Alaska, resident David Bruce Jaeger died at home on July 8, 2024, after a long battle with COPD and a short battle with bladder cancer. He was 87.

David was born on June 22, 1937, in Dickinson, N.D., to Ludwig and Lillian Jaeger. He was raised in Dickinson and played on the high school football team and the clarinet in the school band. After graduating high school in 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy for three years before attending the University of North Dakota, where he met the love of his life, Sharon Poole.

After graduating from the university in 1962, David worked as a CPA for Dow Jones in Chicago. David and Sharon were married in Forest River, N.D., in June 1963, when David was transferred to New York. David and Sharon moved to New Jersey after their honeymoon. While in New York, David continued working for Dow Jones as a CPA at the Wall Street Journal.

During this time, their daughter was born. Seeking new opportunities, they moved to Anchorage in 1969, when David went to work for the Anchorage Times as Controller. In 1971, their son was born. David continued with the Anchorage Times for seven years before pursuing other opportunities.

During this time, he got involved with Boy Scouts when his son joined Cub Scouts. This involvement continued even after his son earned his Eagle Scout award.

In the early 1980s, he started his own small consulting business before "retiring" several years later. After the birth of their first grandchild in 1997, David came out of retirement to be a daycare provider for a few years. In 1998, David was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he successfully beat.

After losing his beloved wife of 48 years to cancer in 2011, David got involved with the local USToo chapter, the men's prostate cancer support network, and a part of the Alaska Men's Run.

He made cherished friends and enjoyed helping other patients through their journeys with the disease.

David is survived by his daughter, Kristen Knight (Greg); son, Erik Jaeger; and grandchildren, Kathryn Knight (Zach) and Jeremy Knight, all of Alaska. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and a few cousins. He is predeceased by his wife; parents; and sisters, Lillian and Donna.

Per his wishes, there will be no service. The family thanks Seann and others at Providence Hospice, who took wonderful care of David in the end. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Alaska Men's Run/USToo, https://alaskamensrun.com/donations/, P.O. Box 242494, Anchorage, AK 99524; or Providence Hospice, https://foundation.providence.org/alaska, P.O. Box 196604, Anchorage, AK 99519.