Anchorage Daily News January 29, 2005

Longtime Alaska resident Ron Zobel, 60, died Jan. 26, 2005, from pneumonia, a complication of cancer. A visitation was held at Witzleben Family Funeral Home on Bragaw Street. A memorial service was at the 4th Avenue Theatre.

Mr. Zobel was born Dec. 13, 1944, in Pender, Neb., to Irene and Marvin Zobel. He served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) as a medic. He met and married Penny in 1970. Mr. Zobel and his wife served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines in the early '70s. He worked as a seasonal ranger for the National Park Service at parks including Olympic, North Cascades, Mount Rainier and Everglades. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law magna cum laude, and was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. He came to Alaska in 1978 to serve as the law clerk to James von der Heydt, chief judge of the U.S. District Court, and to live in the last frontier. "Ron worked in private practice as a lawyer but was happiest working to serve the public as an assistant attorney general at the Alaska Department of Law," his family wrote. "While known for the Permanent Fund dividend case, Ron also dedicated his time to Democratic politics and local causes. "Ron loved the national parks, music, art, history and travel. Everything he did was with passion and for the love of knowledge."

Mr. Zobel is survived by his wife of 34 years, Penny Zobel; their son, Wade; his father, Marvin Zobel of Oelwein, Iowa; and his brother, Dwight Zobel, of Plymouth, Minn. Memorial bequests should be made to Safe Harbor Inn, a shelter for homeless families in Anchorage, at 1905 E. Fourth Ave.

Anchorage Daily News January 29, 2005

Longtime Alaska resident Ron Zobel, 60, died Jan. 26, 2005, from pneumonia, a complication of cancer. A visitation was held at Witzleben Family Funeral Home on Bragaw Street. A memorial service was at the 4th Avenue Theatre.

Mr. Zobel was born Dec. 13, 1944, in Pender, Neb., to Irene and Marvin Zobel. He served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) as a medic. He met and married Penny in 1970. Mr. Zobel and his wife served in the Peace Corps in the Philippines in the early '70s. He worked as a seasonal ranger for the National Park Service at parks including Olympic, North Cascades, Mount Rainier and Everglades. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law magna cum laude, and was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. He came to Alaska in 1978 to serve as the law clerk to James von der Heydt, chief judge of the U.S. District Court, and to live in the last frontier. "Ron worked in private practice as a lawyer but was happiest working to serve the public as an assistant attorney general at the Alaska Department of Law," his family wrote. "While known for the Permanent Fund dividend case, Ron also dedicated his time to Democratic politics and local causes. "Ron loved the national parks, music, art, history and travel. Everything he did was with passion and for the love of knowledge."

Mr. Zobel is survived by his wife of 34 years, Penny Zobel; their son, Wade; his father, Marvin Zobel of Oelwein, Iowa; and his brother, Dwight Zobel, of Plymouth, Minn. Memorial bequests should be made to Safe Harbor Inn, a shelter for homeless families in Anchorage, at 1905 E. Fourth Ave.