In Memory of George Steck

George Steck, born 10/23/26, passed away Friday evening 4/1/11 at Fairbanks Memorial hospital from complications of stomach cancer. George was one of those amazing people that had been "everywhere" and done "everything". After growing up in Chicago, George worked in shipyards on the west coast, building Liberty Ships at the beginning of WWII until he was old enough or "almost" old enough to join the U.S. Navy. George saw action at many of the places in the Pacific war that most of us only read about. His ship made port at Hiroshima at the end of the war. George was witness to the devastation left by the atom bomb but also saw the beauty of Japan. He was mustered out of the Navy soon afterward but was so impressed by Japan and its friendly people that he joined the U.S. Army and went back to Japan with the army of occupation.

George traveled all over Europe on a motorcycle after leaving the Army, even riding in the world famous International Six Day Trials motorcycle competition. He moved to Alaska in 1958 and at the beginning of pipeline construction, worked in various positions including an As-built tech for construction drawings and Pump Station technician on the completed pipeline. Even in his 60’s George could out work the rest of the crew at PS8 and would always be busy performing the tasks that were less desirable and left undone by others. George married Nancy LeFever and worked at her Optometry business in Fairbanks until she passed away. Georges other passion was photography. He has foot lockers full of pictures he'd taken all over the world including Fairbanks and the rest of Alaska.

When you spotted George riding his bicycle around Fairbanks or in a store or restaurant, he always had a camera sometimes two. George was also Chaplin of Tanana Masonic Lodge No. 3. George even tried skydiving at the age of 66 and had to deploy his reserve chute when his main chute malfunctioned. George was one of those rare people that a person might meet once in a lifetime. All those people lucky enough to have known George, will miss his energy and kindness and his wonderful stories.