Wrangell Sentinel -

Gregory Gene Scheff, 61, died in a devastating plane accident April 8, 2016 on Admiralty Island, near Angoon, Alaska on route to a survey job at the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal.

Greg was born in Crosby, N.D. to Claude and Delila Scheff on February 18, 1955. Greg met Deborah in Hyder, Alaska in 1989. They were married in Wrangell, Alaska on December 9, 1993.

Together the couple

purchased the M/V Lady Ferrell and made it their home. Lady Ferrell was a well-known

vessel in Southeast Alaska. Lady Ferrell was not only used as a home and recreational

vessel, she served mainly as a bunkhouse in remote and

out of town land surveying job sites. Friends and family enjoyed many good times on the boat. Each November Greg would take several friends on a yearly deer hunt to Hecata Island.

Greg, along with Eric Yancey, took groups of students of the Wrangell High School Shakes Glacier Survey Team to measure the yearly ice movement.

Greg owned and

operated Greg Scheff and Associates Land Surveyors in Sitka and Petersburg before moving the company to Wrangell, Alaska. In 2010, Greg became a partner of Trevor Sande in his land surveying and engineering company, R & M Engineering-Ketchikan Inc.

Greg was a true Alaskan and respected member of his

community, Wrangell, Alaska. He was a humble man with a rare gentleness, kindness, patience and an easy going manner that touched and inspired all who met him. Greg never seemed to worry

about the past or future, he truly lived in the moment. While Greg was a hardworking and successful business person, his first priority and enjoyment in life was his family. He was always willing to help a friend and member of the community in need.

Alaskan through and through, Greg was an avid outdoorsman and hunter, golfer and bowler. He was instrumental in the creation of the Wrangell golf course, along with many others from the community. He was a member of the Wrangell Elks Lodge, the Sitka Moose Lodge, Muskeg Meadows Golf Course and a board member of Wrangell Senior Apartments.

His father Claude Scheff preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife Deborah, stepson Mark Mendoza and his wife Jennifer, his mother Delila of Billings, Mont., his brother Gary Scheff and wife Neoma, his sister Cammy Lien and husband Ed, his nephews Gary and Travis Scheff and nephews Calvin and Ward Lien.