Obituary

Robert W. “Bill” Kranich

Nov. 14, 1936-May 22, 2017

Robert W. “Bill” Kranich, 80, died Sunday, May 22, 2017. “He peacefully went to be with his Creator after an extended battle with lung cancer,” his family said.

Born on Nov. 14, 1936, Bill was the second of Arlene and Bob Kranich’s three sons. Bill’s parents homesteaded in Homer in 1935 after several years managing a sheep ranch on Unalaska Island. Two months before Bill was due, Arlene took a steamship to the closest hospital in Seward. Bob stayed behind, and to provide support, braved an open skiff and October weather to row chickens to Seldovia for sale. Bill graduated from Homer High in 1955 and earned a University of Alaska Fairbanks civil engineering degree in 1963. During his college years, Bill and his brother Ray built the Homer Family Theater.

In his professional life, Bill quickly gravitated to well construction and water system design. Through his work at Dowl Engineers, MW Drilling, Kranich and Associates and his most recent venture, Northern Utility Services, he worked tirelessly to provide quality water service to the State of Alaska and beyond. Bill’s engineering legacy is marked by practical and ingenious designs that will far outlast him.

While Bill was attending UAF, he met his future wife, Sandra Scofield. Sandy worked in the engineering department and was recently widowed with an infant daughter, Susan. Bill decided to make an impression by shoveling her roof. Sandy reciprocated with what Bill described as “the best meat loaf ever,” and the rest is history. Two years later, son David was born and the young family moved to South Anchorage.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Sandra Kranich; his brother; Gene, and parents, Arlene and Bob Kranich.

He is survived by his brother, Ray and wife Eileen; son, David, and wife, Anita; daughter, Susan, and husband, John Kossey, and five grandchildren.

“Bill worked until the week of his death, bringing passion, generosity, ingenuity and integrity to everything he did, from water infrastructure to neighborhood road maintenance,” his family said. “He was active with his church family for over 45 years, and made it his mission to teach basic mechanic skills to all who would listen. While we know that Bill leaves a large hole in his community, we also know it will be filled by those he tirelessly mentored, served and loved. May his legacy be repeated in those he leaves behind.”