Ninilchik Alaskan Pioneer, Mr. Doug Blossom, 74, died from an aneurism on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, in Anchorage with his family by his side. 

A memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Carol Bock Hall inside the Ninilchik Fairgrounds.  Pastor Ray Leonard will officiate.  Everyone is invited.  Pallbearers will include his grandsons, Brian, Brad, Boomer, David, Grant and Cody Blossom and Billy and Jared Duncan.  

Mr. Blossom was born Aug. 10, 1939, in Spooner, Minn., the eldest child of Floyd and Marion Blossom. With sisters Janet and Martha, Doug and his parents moved to Clam Gulch in 1948. The following year they homesteaded 10 miles north of Ninilchik. In 1951 he started setnetting with his parents and continued that occupation without missing a season for 62 years. 

Mr. Blossom attended school at Ninilchik and then stayed with uncles in Chicago for his final two years of high school and graduation. He met Mitzi Gober there and married her in 1960. The newlyweds soon bought the McLaughlin homestead near Mile 124 Sterling Highway, and have lived there ever since.  In addition to setnetting, Doug worked for Western Geophysical, farmed hay, seined salmon and herring, long lined halibut, built boats, and poured concrete. He had the Daphne S. gillnetter and the Mitzi Bee seine vessel.  

He was a founding member of Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association and served as the treasurer there for many years.  He also helped found the Cook Inlet Fisherman’s Fund, a commercial fishing organization, served as chairman of the District 34 Republican Party, served on the federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, and helped the Ninilchik Cabin Hoppers build and groom snowmachine trails.  

Doug loved moose hunting with family and friends and made a yearly “vacation” of it. He became familiar with Nodwell track vehicles through his work with Western Geophysical. He soon bought one and kept it running for his annual hunts.  He also was an early entrant into the snowmachine world.  He and his family enjoyed riding and visiting their cabin in Caribou Hills.  

Doug was a lifelong member of the Ninilchik Methodist Church.    

Doug was preceded in death by his father, Floyd; mother, Marion; and his only brother, Stephen. 

He is survived by his wife of more than 53 years, Mitzi; sons, Doug and his wife, Mary; David and his wife, Katie; daughters, Debbie, Diane and her husband, Heath; his grandchildren, Brian Blossom and wife, Jenni; Brad Blossom; Boomer Blossom, Brittani Blossom; David Blossom and wife, Dawnjalee; Grant Blossom and fiancé, Jaci Lamborn; Rachel Blossom; Cody Blossom; Billy Duncan and wife, Julia Jack; Kaile Duncan; and Jared Duncan; and his sisters, Janet and her husband Bob Clucas; Martha and her husband, Dennis Ogren; Kathy and her husband Larry Wallace; and Judy and her husband, Brent Johnson.  

Doug’s aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins are many, as are his friends. 

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Doug c/o Mitzi Blossom at P.O. Box 289 – Clam Gulch, Alaska 99639.