Paul Fredrick Abruska

Oct 10, 1988 -

Mar 23, 2022

Paul Fredrick Abruska, 33, passed away March 23, 2022 at Matsu Regional Hospital in Palmer, Alaska.

Service will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Kehl's Legacy Funeral Home, 11621 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99515. Father Michael Fredricks will officiate. Burial be officiated by Father Andrew at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Hickerson Memorial Cemetery in Homer, AK. Pallbearers will be Joseph D. Abruska II, Nickolas Zimin, Donald F. Nielsen II, George King III, Bjorn King, Brad Angasan, Hunter Angasan. Honorary pallbearer: Hanna Abruska.

Paul was born Oct. 10, 1988 at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. He attended primary school in South Naknek, Alaska. He flew daily to middle & high school to Naknek at Bristol Bay Middle/High School. He attended Scott Community College in Davenport, Iowa and UAA Anchorage and Matsu College in Palmer, Alaska. He grew up in South Naknek, Alaska then moved to Wasilla after leaving Davenport, Iowa.

He worked as a Bristol Bay Commercial fisherman since a child. He also worked as a Computer Systems Support Specialist for Vista International Operations at Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. He performed IT and Administrative support for Native Village of South Naknek. He was a Pharmacy Technician Apprentice at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage, Alaska. He was attending Matsu College for the Paramedic Program. He was a tribal member of South Naknek and a shareholder of Bristol Bay Native Corporation and Calista Native Corporation.

He attended Elevation of the Holy Cross Orthodox Church, South Naknek, Alaska and St Innocent Orthodox Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska.

He had earned awards and pins while in Cub and Boy Scouts of America. He also placed 4th in the Native Youth Olympics State Championships for the wrist carry. He loved fishing, hiking & kayaking with his daughter, Emily.

His family stated, "Paul had all sorts of exotic and unusual pets growing up. One winter when he was nine years old, he ordered a frog which amazingly arrived alive in the mail at South Naknek, Alaska. When his little creatures passed away, he had a little pet cemetery for them on a little treed knoll near our house. He grew up taking care of all eight family dogs. He especially loved his dogs Biscuit Ann Gravy, Minishka, Mishka & cat, Snowball. When family went away for weekends, he preferred to stay home because he worried about our pets." Paul's uncle, Donald II (Uncle Dungy) remarked that "Paul was a friend to all." Paul would do anything for his grandparents, Donald and Mary Jane Nielsen. He was someone they could count on.

Paul is preceded by his aunt, Eva Nielsen King (Dec 2015) of South Naknek, Alaska; and father, Karl Rawson (July 2021) of Wasilla, Alaska.

He is survived by his mother, Lorianne Rawson; daughter, Emily Abruska; brother, Joseph D. Abruska II (Hanna) & children: Lyra, Soren, Maple & Pepper; sister, Lorianne Zimin (Nickolas) & their children: Aurelia, Tilden, Evie, Poppy & Tucker; all of Wasilla, Alaska; grandparents, Donald & Mary Jane Nielsen of South Naknek, Alaska; uncle, Donald F. Neilsen II (Uncle Dungy) & aunt, Linda; cousin, Isabella of Philomath, Ore.; cousins: George King III, Rytter King of Anchorage, Alaska & Bjorn King (Hillary) of Beaverton, Ore. Biological father, Joseph D. Abruska of Anchorage, Alaska.

Arrangements entrusted to Kehl's Legacy Funeral Home. To share words of comfort with the family please go to legacyalaska.com.