Longtime Kodiak resident, David Carey Salzer, 76, passed away April 30,2025 at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage surrounded by family and close friends. 

He was born on February 3, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio to Bonnie Lee Carey and Edward George Salzer.  He graduated from Del Oro High School in Loomis, CA with the honor of being one of their star football players.   His whole life was lived with a “work hard, play hard” mentality and he lived life to the fullest. 

Dave served in the U.S. Navy from ’67-’72, first training to be an underwater demolitions expert with the SEALS but due to a training injury he finished out his Navel Career as a radioman receiving a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. He was a fierce patriot who loved his country, flew the flag proudly, and made sure to shake the hand of every veteran he saw as he thanked them for their service.  

After the Navy, he and close friends from high school hightailed it to Alaska where they planned to homestead just outside Talkeetna.  After a rough winter, he headed south to Kodiak where he eventually became a commercial fisherman, owning, building, and operating his own vessels.  He met and married Anne Wooley and they had 3 children making their home in Chiniak in a house he built himself from lumber milled off his own property. As the kids grew older, he became involved in the Chiniak School sports program where he coached the basketball team his two daughters were on.  

In 1988 Dave married Evalyn Descloux and welcomed her four children into his life.  He loved his entire family more than anything and always wanted the best for them while also expecting each person to do their very best.  If they did their best, that was good enough.  That same year he was baptized giving his life to the Lord, always thanking God for the blessings in his life. He was often heard saying “Well, Halleluiah” when something went well. 

Days were filled with horseback riding, inner-tubing both on snow and in the water, baseball in the fields, and weekly community games at the Chiniak School of volleyball and basketball.  Later on, he played city league basketball.  All this hard play was mixed with a healthy dose of work for all, whether it was pulling up saplings in the horse pasture, digging trenches for better drainage, boat work, or what at times seemed his favorite ‘chore’, moving this pile from here to over there and back again! All of the children learned the value of hard work by spending time working on his fishing boats. He loved gatherings and seeing all the kids and grandkids, frequently around a beach picnic bonfire.  

 Dave had a big heart and was willing to help anyone in need.  Over the years, many relatives found welcome refuge in his home during their time of need until they got back on their feet. Constantly learning, he also gave generously of his time to teach family, friends and neighbors. Christmas was his favorite holiday as he loved watching everyone open and enjoy their gifts.  He loved to drive around looking at all the Christmas lights and his and Evalyn’s home was always one of the best! He loved backyard BBQ’s and welcomed anyone to come sit and spend a couple hours swapping stories, playing with his dogs, and slapping mosquitoes.  

Throughout the years there were many happy memories made, fishing at the rivers with flies he tied himself, picking salmonberries, fireworks on the Fourth of July, handing out candy on Halloween and seeing all the kids in their costumes, and more.

He had many passions and after retiring from being a mechanic on the Coast Guard base his main one became building his woodpile.  He loved driving the beaches looking for the perfect logs and had it down to a science.  If there wasn’t 5 years’ worth of firewood at home, another trip to the beach was in order!  Gold panning was another passion and he and Evalyn went on several adventures across Alaska looking for gold, often with grandkids in tow.  Always with an eye out for a special piece of diamond willow, he also spent hours wandering some favorite beaches looking for agates.  He became an avid gardener, constantly working on and improving the irrigation system, creating richer compost, as well as pest control.  His pride and joy were his apple trees, as well as Evalyn’s flowers.

Dave was preceded in death by his dad, Edward Salzer, mom, Bonnie Carey, stepdad, George Eisemann, and stepdaughter, Bonnie Descloux Froehlich.  He is survived by wife of 36 years, Evalyn Salzer; sister Jane Eisemann (Bob Bowhay); daughter April (Dustin Werner) and their children, William and Elizabeth; daughter Sarah (Toshi Niwa) and their children, Honomi and Ruito; son Steven Salzer; stepdaughter Bonnie’s children, Dylan, Samantha, Katharine, and Courtney; stepdaughter Michelle (Aaron Walton) and their children Abraham, Erik, Cody, Rebekah, Gracie, Kimana, and Leah; stepdaughter Helga and her son, George; stepson Mike Descloux (Cheli Llosa) and their children Christoffer and Benjamin; 4 great-grandbabies and numerous nieces, nephews, and other beloved relatives, as well as many dear friends.  

Everything Dave did in life, he did to the best of his ability.  He was an amazing provider for his family, a loyal friend to many, and will be deeply missed.  

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