Aaron Downing

Feb 10, 1933 -

Nov 15, 2020

Aaron Downing, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Nov. 15, 2020.

He spent most of his life in the state he loved, Alaska. He had a full and rich life, filled with adventure and success. He was proud to help many folks along the way, with his knowledge of business and contracting. He was also glad to help out the Republican Party and local candidates any way he could, advising many folks during their political careers. He loved his vegetable garden and was immensely proud of his flower beds, especially his dahlias. He was an avid pilot and loved to take friends and family fishing and hunting from Lake Minchumina to Prince William Sound, and everywhere in between. He met and married Donna, the love of his life, in Fairbanks where they both played in the city band.

He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks as the very first electrical engineer in Alaska. His career took him from Fairbanks to Anchorage and then to the Lower 48 in 1969. He and Donna came back to Alaska in 1973, to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, to start their own company, Downing Electric. He was proud to not only work for MEA, but also later to sit on the Board.

He enjoyed family most of all, and was "Grandpa" to all he met.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Donna; his children: son, Philip and wife Janice; daughter, Laurie and husband Bill; and daughter, Lisa. He has seven grandchildren: Lyle, Diane, Keith, Randy, Chelsea, Carrie and Abby. He has eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews here and in the Lower 48. A memorial is planned for summer 2021.