Patrick Mahoney
Mar 24, 1938 -
Mar 11, 2023
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
As soon as he graduated from high school in 1956, Patrick Joseph Mahoney began working two jobs to save enough money to drive to Alaska from his home in Lyons, Wis.; Canada required a person to show they had $200 cash to cross its border on the way to Alaska.
Pat arrived in Alaska in early summer 1957 and, as he would say, "I came to explore for a couple weeks but I looked around and thought, 'Why would I leave?'" So he didn't.
Jean (nee Wilfort) joined him, and they were married in Alaska later that year. Pat and Jean subsequently divorced but they remained co-parents and friends.
Pat perfected his homestead claim on Fish Creek by Big Lake and was granted his deed on March 9, 1964, under the May 20, 1862 Homestead Act. He and Jean raised their family at the homestead until moving to Eagle River, Alaska, in the 1960s, and the family continued to enjoy many happy times at their first home.
Pat was born in Chicago. Ill., to Denis and Della (nee Ruane) Mahoney on March 24, 1938. His father was born in County Cork, Ireland, and his mother was born in County Mayo. Pat's parents met after immigrating to the United States; both became naturalized citizens. Pat was proud of his Irish heritage and would joke, "You know what I be if I wasn't Irish? Ashamed of myself!" We think he was joking!
Pat's parents moved their family to Lyons, when he was 7 years old, a decision for which he was always grateful. Pat developed a lifelong love for hunting, fishing, working and playing hard, and all things outdoors. After moving to Alaska, he added both recreational and competitive snowmachining, boating and flying airplanes.
Pat was a carpenter by trade and well-respected in the industry. He founded Cook Inlet Contracting Inc., which was a commercial construction company, doing mostly remote projects. After retirement, Pat continued to enjoy duck hunting, trap and skeet, fishing and anything outdoors.
Pat was always ready to lend a helping hand to friends and family. He was a charter member of the Eagle River Elks Club and instrumental in remodeling the Lodge. He was honored with awards including Elk of the Year, Distinguished Citizenship Award and Honorary Life Membership. Pat chaired the Eagle River Lions Club Annual Kids Fishing Derby for many years.
Pat and Kathryn Coleman semi-eloped on Feb. 13, 1987. They didn't marry on the more traditional Valentine's Day because Pat had a long-standing date to take his "girlfriend" on the Sweetheart Poker Run at Lake Louise that year, so she could "snowmachine at 70 mph for her 70th birthday." Pat and Kathryn lived in Eagle River until moving to Settlers Bay in 2017.
Pat loved his family and was blessed to have a loving family who loved him back and who will miss him dearly. He is survived by Kathryn Coleman, his wife of 36 years; children, Shannon Mahoney-Irish, Tim Mahoney (Kim), Patti Holden (Joe), Mike Mahoney; stepdaughter, Kimberly Coleman-Bratsch; sister, Nora Satathite (Jim); seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and Jiggs, his Gordon Setter.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Anna Marie Gerloff, Danny Mahoney and Denis "Red" Mahoney; sons-in-law, Henry Irish and Jody Bratsch; daughter-in-law, Lora Mahoney; former spouse, Jean Mahoney; and Maggie "the best hunting dog I ever had."
Pat's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the Eagle River Elks Lodge, 17111 North Eagle River Loop Road in Eagle River.
