Arnold Wesley "Wes" Hamrick

Dec 1, 1953 -

Oct 24, 2021

Wes was born in Anchorage, Alaska, pre-statehood. He grew up in the Butte area and graduated from Palmer High School in 1972. Many knew him from his activity in the snowmachining community: as a founding member of the Mat-Su Motor Mushers in the 1970s, as Tech and Race Director of the Iron Dog for several years in the 1980s, as the inaugural president of The Alaska State Snowmobile Association, and for his dedication to building the trail system in the Big Lake area in the 1990s. He was also known to have a philosophy of "my way or the highway," and cut ties with most of his friends and family over the course of time. In his later years, he became a semi-professional singer-songwriter in Arizona, forming a duo called "Wes n' Wanda."

In 2020, Wes unfortunately fell victim to misinformation about COVID-19, which led him to not get vaccinated or take recommended pandemic precautions. He died of COVID-19 pneumonia in an improvised intensive care unit in Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Garner and Germaine Hamrick; older brother, Wally Morris; and younger sister, Kathy Fleming. He is survived by his children, Marissa Hamrick, Jared Hamrick and Larry Baldwin; partner, Elwanda Hamrick; sister, Carole Milstead; and former wife, Yvonne Pitzer (nee Nilles). He has been cremated according to his wishes, and will be buried at Angelus Memorial Park in Anchorage with his parents and sister. An interment service will be planned for spring, pending the health of Wanda.

In lieu of flowers, please make sure you and your loved ones are vaccinated against COVID-19.