Longtime Alaska resident and bush pilot Eugene ""Gene"" Quinton Weiler passed away peacefully at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday evening, Nov. 23, 2016, with his family by his side. He was born on Feb. 6, 1932, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Nick and Elsa Weiler. He came to Alaska as a 3-year-old with his parents in 1935, with the original Palmer colonists. After their homestead was established in Palmer, Alaska, in 1939, they spent summers commercial fishing Kasiloff and the beaches of Kenai, and the fall and winter months in Anchorage.Shortly after graduation from the old Anchorage High School, Gene found his first love - flying! He also proudly served his country for two years as a U.S. Marine in Korea.He worked for the Territory of Alaska Road Commission, which became the State of Alaska Highway Planning department as a Supervisor until his retirement in 1989.It was during his work for the State that he met his next great love, Nadine Mudge. He married her and her two sons, Ron and Craig, in August 1960. They lived in a Quonset hut on Government Hill for eight years. They had two additional children, Nicky and Shawna.His love of flying led to him being very active in the Civil Air Patrol, participating in numerous Search and Rescue missions, achieving the rank of Lt. Commander. After the 1964 earthquake, he flew hundreds of hours to deliver aid to remote locations.Gene was a frequent flyer at F. St. Station, having a cup of soup and a Coke almost every day for 30-plus years. A plaque in his honor can be found over his favorite seat.Gene was greeted in Heaven by his parents; his brother, Harold; his stepsons, Ronald Mudge and Craig Mudge; his infant son, Nicholas Weiler; and his beloved dogs, Blackie, Thor, Max and Piper!He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nadine Phillips Weiler; his daughter, Shawna and her husband Todd Parrish; daughter-in-law, Robin Mudge; ex-daughter-in-law ,Tara Sutphen and daughter-in-law Jill Allen; grandchildren, William Sutphen, Nicholas Allen, Tabitha Legler (Jake), Deborah Mudge, Joseph Mudge, Britton Parrish, Logan Parrish, Quintin Parrish and Gabriel Parrish; great-grandson, Declan Legler; and siblings, Ted Weiler, Gladys Denney, Virginia Schwedler and Charles Weiler (Dolores).A memorial service is being held this Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at 5:30 p.m., at the Alaska Aviation Museum by Lake Hood, 4721 Aircraft Dr., Anchorage, AK 99502.All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the in Gene's name.