On September 5, 2025, Donald Duane Starbard – Wakéesh – was surrounded by family in Ocean Shores, Washington. As he listened to the music he enjoyed, and held the hands of those he loved, he went peacefully to sleep.
When Don first learned of his cancer diagnosis, he was initially told he may only have 6-8 weeks left. But mere days after the news, he still took the time to attend his scheduled online Tlingit formline art class. Just as his entire life was packed with art, culture, and a pursuit of knowledge and experience, he never considered that the end of it was going to be any different.
Born in 1954 to Marlene (Greenwald) Johnson in Ketchikan, Alaska, Don was T’akdeintaan of the Snail House, given the Tlingit name of Wakéesh, meaning “Father’s Vision.” In addition to his mother, Don was raised by and surrounded by a village of extended family, including aunt Charlotte “Lottie” Underwood, cousin Karly Underwood, stepdad Clifford Johnson, siblings Robert, Howard, and Lynell “Pixie” Starbard, and Patty and Jodi Johnson.
In Hoonah, Don first discovered and explored his passions for the arts, his peace in the outdoors of Lingít Aani, and his lifetime love of learning. From a young age he worked – at bringing pails of water up the Hoonah hills, logging assistance at the age of 12, selling buckets of clams he dug up, or hand trolling in high school. At Hoonah High School, Don became a true renaissance man. A basketball star, a band member, class president, theatre performances, art club – Don pursued every interest with a mind to not just experience, but excel in it.
When he earned a basketball scholarship to Lewis and Clark College in Oregon, Don also became a radio DJ amongst other odd jobs, continuing to pursue anything that might interest him. He worked seasonally for the Alaska State Troopers right out of high school.
He was working on the P/V Vigilant as a seasonal worker when a large fishing vessel was stuck, pounding against the rocks with a full crew, including the captain’s spouse and young child. Don was shepherding a small rescue boat between the sinking boat and the Vigilant, the crew of the sinking boat donning rescue suits and jumping in the water where Don would pull them out into his boat. They didn’t have a survival suit for the toddler, so her father had to put her in a garbage bag, fill it with air and throw it in the water. Don quickly grabbed the bag, ripping it open – to find a smiling and safe toddler, happy with their ”game.”
Soon after, Don entered the Alaska State Trooper Academy, and before graduation was presented with the Commendation for Valor for his involvement in the sea rescue, the highest honor available to an Alaska State Trooper. He graduated the academy as salutatorian, with the first two of many recognitions awarded him in his long career as a Trooper. Duty and helping the community were values that marked every day of Don’s life.
Before his recruitment, Don participated in a men’s basketball tournament in Craig, Alaska, and played against the only woman playing in the tournament, Linda James. Little did he know where their initial competitive meeting would lead. A few years later, when he was stationed in Craig as a trooper, he met Linda again when called to her family home to address a menacing bear situation. Months later, they were married on a basketball court.
Over the next eight years Don and Linda would welcome Karla Rachelle, Vera Marlene, Miranda Dawn, and Nathan Mathias. Don loved being a father. He never let their feet touch the ground as babies, played (kind) jokes when they were young, grilled them on 1960s rock music knowledge as they grew, and ensured each would have a strong foundation in esoteric American history trivia (whether they wanted it or not.) He instilled in them to value creativity and appreciate art, whether visual design or movies and television.
Don raised in the ranks as an Alaska State Wildlife Trooper, from seasonal worker to officer, sergeant to lieutenant to captain, boat officer on the Vigilant and the Enforcer, and skipper of the Woldstad. He received multiple Commendations of Meritorious Service and Bravery, was both detachment and statewide Alaska State Trooper of the Year, and served the state with distinction. He was stationed in communities around the state such as Craig, Juneau, Kodiak, Anchorage, and Palmer, had lengthy assignments in communities like Ketchikan, Wrangell, Cordova, Hoonah, and Nenana, and served out of Adak, Sand Point, Dutch Harbor, and communities around Bristol Bay. As skipper he also called the sea his home, spending months at a time in the waters around Alaska.
At the young age of 43, Don had already spent over 20 years with the Alaska State Troopers, and was serving as Commander of Southcentral and Western Alaska. He took a full retirement, although he then spent another decade contracting for the troopers in roles like Background Investigator and Vessell Supervisor. He continued to take on non-trooper roles that gave him experience and adventure. Amongst other roles he’d become a boat tour operator, golf marshal, motorcoach guide, airlines representative, and boat tender.
Following retirement, he renewed one of his earliest passions in the arts. He began to diligently study and practice traditional Tlingit arts like formline design and wood carving, and took an especially deep satisfaction in becoming a professional artist. He learned from both Master Artists and books, and collaborated with his wife and children on innumerable small and large creative projects. His educational and creative pursuits led him to become a cultural interpreter and winter watchman in Glacier Bay at Huna Shuka Hit. His final position, in addition to Traditional Artist, was as National Park Ranger and Tribal House Manager at Glacier Bay National Park – a role he enjoyed immensely and took great pride in.
His family continued to grow with the addition of Vera’s marriage to Joseph Bedard and Karla’s marriage to Christopher Klabunde. Don connected with his biological father Buzz Kylonnen late in life, as well as Renee Skeels, and enjoyed getting to know them immensely. He rejoiced in each new connection he made, and each day spent visiting or talking with family. Throughout his life, Don enjoyed spending time with all his family and took pride in the strong bonds he developed with his cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and friends he considered family.
In November of 2024, Don learned he had Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. While of course heartbroken, he took the news and the following months as he had taken the first 70 years of his life – with both pragmatism and originality. Don enjoyed time and connection with co-workers, teammates, people from communities he’d lived and served in, childhood friends, and so many whose lives he touched, and touched his life in return. He never stopped learning, and he never stopped sharing what he was learning. His remaining months were filled with art, music, adventure, and family, and even during his last few days he researched art, watching documentaries, and quizzed his children on music history.
The family of Don Starbard invite you to share your memories with Don to his official tribute book, on this website, and on Facebook. We would love stories, photos, tributes, or anything else that might honor Don.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make a donation to the Juneau Animal Rescue in Don’s honor.
WAKÉESH 
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