Richard Louis Proenneke, 87, died on May 20, 2003. Proenneke was born on May 4, 1916 in Rogers City, Michigan. He lived in Alaska from the late 1950s until his death. A veteran of World War II, Proenneke served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He worked as a surveyor and made several Alaskan trips before deciding to move there permanently in 1967, living in the Twin Lakes area near Lake Clark National Park. Proenneke built a cabin with his own hands, dedicating two full summers to do so. His talents both as a craftsman and an outdoorsman were recorded in books and documentaries, detailing his solitary life in the extreme northern wilderness. Proenneke's love for the environment and knowledge of the land left indelible marks on Alaska. He was a generous host, often welcoming visitors to his cabin. Thanks to his hard work, future generations can observe and learn from Proenneke's legacy.