Goldstream Publications

Long time Alaskan Ronald Richard "Ron" Wendt, 51 died November 10, 2007 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska. A celebration of life gathering was held Saturday, November 17 at Wasilla Bible Church for family and friends.

Ron Wendt was born April 24, 1956 in Fairbanks, in the Territory of Alaska. Ron was raised on his family’s homestead on Chena Hot Springs Road outside of Fairbanks and his father’s mining claims in the Circle gold fields. He developed an early interest in Alaska history by exploring ghost towns and mining camps and talking with old-timers from the gold rush era. Ron worked as a gold miner, newspaper reporter, photographer, college instructor, construction worker, and custodian before starting his own publishing business, Goldstream Publications, in Wasilla, Alaska. He wrote about gold rush history, modern day mining and prospecting, and many tales of Alaska. Ron was a member of the Alaska Miners Association, an avid baseball fan, and loved to travel the roads of Alaska with his wife Bonnie.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Bonnie Wendt, his parents Al and Jeanne Wendt of Wasilla, brother Monte Wendt of Fairbanks, brother Pat Wendt of Anchorage, sister Colleen Dettmer of Forest Lake, Minn., sister Beverly Vadner of Wasilla, and many nieces and nephews.

Gilmore Dome 1982

Upper Craigie Creek

SuziQ Creek 1981

Ron's impact on the mining community and this forum was immense. He truly had a heart of gold. I have read his books and learned of his adventures. What an awesome man, and what an envious life he led. Raise your gold pans high and say a kind word for Ron, a true Alaskan legend. God bless you Ron.

Thanks for letting us know about Ron's passing.  We will remember you and the family in our prayers.  Even though we know Ron is on some new adventure in Heaven, it is hard to say good bye.  I think back on the good times we had together years ago.  I remember getting sore thumbs from stapling his first book together.  We put the staples in with a staple gun and then flipped the books over and bent the staples over with our fingers.  We had no idea what that book would lead to.  Nancy and I loaned Ron the money for the printing.  He promptly paid us back as he sold books and then gave me a small gold nugget for all the help.  Ron was quite the entertainer.  I remember Ron ripping out the seat of his pants jumping a small stream as we were hiking up to a glacier.  One time we camped out in canvas wall tent when it was below zero.  In the morning, Ron lit a kerosene heater and put hot dogs on top for our breakfast.  I remember another trip to another glacier, I was out ahead of Ron always and cutting through some thick brush in a gully.  I came face to face with a cow moose.   The moose and I were quite startled, the moose ran down the hill through the brush towards Ron and I ran up the hill into the open.  I remember Ron shouting, 'Bear!, Bear!" as the large blur of brown was coming at him quite quickly.  After the panic was over, we enjoyed a good laugh over it all.  Ron was good influence on my life. 

When my copy of the ICMJ would arrive every month and I would see a story by Ron in it I would ignore everything else and until I had read his story first and some of them read them a 2nd time. My plans were when I make back to Alaska was to try and meet Ron and tell him in person how much I looked forward too and enjoyed reading his stories.

Daniel Lee Holman

I am so shocked and saddened to learn of Ron’s passing. Ron was such a good soul. Such a good person. He had a big heart, such a big generosity. Ron was the quintessential Alaska, and I know he was proud of that. We were both born in the Territory of Alaska, and both talked about being so proud of that. Ron was so generous with the help he gave me for my mystery book. I will always feel so grateful for that.

After 9/11 Queen Elizabeth gave a moving memorial speech of condolence to the American people. In it she made one statement that was, to me, the ultimate truth about grief: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Roberta Sheldon

Ron has had a very positive influence on my life and part of what I am today can be traced back to my friendship with Ron.  Ron probably won't be doing any more treasure hunting or prospecting since he is now walking on streets of gold.