Clinton Walter Hlebechuk

Sept. 19, 1948 – Dec. 23, 2017

Clinton Walter Hlebechuk, 69, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer.

A gathering in his honor was held Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at Land’s End Resort in Homer.

Clinton Walter Hlebechuk was born on Sept. 19, 1948 to Walter and Martha (Enzi) Hlebechuk in Dickinson, North Dakota. He was raised on a farm in Billings County, North Dakota. Clint attended a one room school in Billings County through eighth grade. He graduated from Killdeer High School in 1966.

Clint married Shirley Kind and to this union two children were born, Warren Paul and Kimberly. He later married Tonja Gluesing and to this union Michael and Alexius were born. Clint was also married to Sherol Ledin and Simyra Taback.

Clint was a man who followed his dream and that was to be in Alaska, a part of the last frontier. During his lifetime Clint worked in various jobs in North Dakota, but always had a bit of wanderlust in his soul. In 1988 he moved to Kodiak to start a charter fishing company which later led to the start-up of the Hallo Bay Wilderness Camp business he ran, located in Homer, Alaska. Clint poured his heart and soul into this profession and became a world renowned figure in this industry. He catered to the international community and built a model business that was a huge success.

Nowhere in the world could tourists expect to get up close and personal with the wildlife of Alaska as he had to offer. Clint knew Alaska was the last frontier and wanted to be a part of that landscape before it was gone. Some of the accomplishments include having the likes of the Disney World Discovery,” the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) (BBC’s Alaska Live presentation) and National Geographic at his camp for filming of the wildlife and creating documentaries and films. Possibly the greatest accomplishment was his efforts to get Disney World to film a large portion of the Earth Day movie “Bears” based out of his camp at Hallo Bay. He was a very strong believer of his model of leaving no trace in the wilderness and accomplished that like no other.

Clint was a naturalist who said “Today, the enemies of wildlife include sprawling urbanization, overuse of habitat areas and resource managers desperate for increased revenue sources, the public demanding to see and use their public lands at a greater rate than ever and poorly planned and executed wildlife studies. My greatest pleasure today is giving others the opportunity to observe a thriving pristine wildlife habitat without large impacting crowds. Each day brings and opportunity to experience an unspoiled habitat and savor it again and again.” Clint will be missed greatly by all his family members, friends and business associates from around the world.

The family would like to extend a huge thank you to Clint’s long-time friend Toni Jankovic and her sister, Karen Sullivan, for caring for Clint in his final months.

Clint was preceded in death by his father, Walter Hlebechuk of Fairfield, North Dakota.

Clint was the oldest of six children. He survived by his children, Warren Paul (Lipong) and Kimberly Mason of Chicago, Illinois, Michael (Sara) Hlebechuk of Fargo, North Dakota, and Alexius Fisher of Boston, Massachusetts; his mother, Martha Hlebechuk, of Fairfield, North Dakota; siblings Donna (Tom) Miller of Madison, Wisconsin, Paula (Rod) Riehl of Boise, Idaho, John Hlebechuk of South Heart, North Dakota, Rebecca (Darrell) Schwindt of Dickinson, North Dakota, and Jim (Carla) Hlebechuk of Killdeer, North Dakota; and numerous grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.