Michael Cornell

Dec 19, 1950 -

Aug 11, 2022

Michael Lee Cornell passed away on Aug. 11, 2022, after a decade long battle with COPD. Mike was born in Wayne County, Mich., on Dec. 19, 1950. He was adopted by Jerry and Jeanette Cornell and spent his childhood in Tacoma, Wash., then Anchorage, Alaska, where he graduated from East High School in 1969.

Mike joined Laborers Local 341 and worked on many projects in the Anchorage area as well as the Aleutians, TAPS and Valdez. He married Paula in 1987, and they had a son, Jerry Lee, who was killed tragically by a sled dog in Willow, Alaska, where they had moved. He spent the next 12 years rebuilding his own version of Cornell's Rendezvous, the roadhouse Jerry Cornell had built in the 60s. Mike loved the area and the moose hunting.

His friend Whitey writes: "He introduced me to salmon fishing and snowmachining. We had many adventures exploring the ridges and canyons of the Talkeetna Mountains."

Mike was an avid fisherman with many opportunities nearby as well as down on the Kenai Peninsula. When his health worsened, he moved down to Willowhaven Senior Housing in downtown Willow, right on the lake where he spent the remainder of his life.

He is survived by three half-sisters, Linda Smith of Michigan, Geraldine Koehne of Texas, and Robin Partin of Michigan; and half-brother, Glenn Smith of Michigan.

A Celebration of Life is planned. Call Whitey for details at 907-841-1563.