Accompanied by polka music and a community potluck, the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar hosted a memorial for Don Sheldon this past weekend, where a life-sized bronze statue of the Alaskan bush pilot was unveiled.
The Statue came to Talkeetna as part of Don Sheldon’s sister Bonnie’s will. One of her last wishes was to have a memorial to her late brother in Alaska. Coordinating the event was assigned to her grandchildren, John Lorentzen and Kristen Sweet, and, after four and a half years of effort, the statue found its home at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar.
Before his passing in 1975, Don Sheldon played a major role in establishing Talkeetna as the aviation hub it is today. For over twenty years, he operated Talkeetna Air Service, where he regularly assisted in rescue efforts on Denali. Roberta Sheldon, the widow of Don Sheldon, sold the Talkeetna Air Service hangar to the Denali Arts Council for one dollar, which was then renovated and renamed the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar.
With all of Don Sheldon’s history here, Kristen Sweet said it just made sense to display the statue in Talkeetna at the hangar.
“John and I both said, Man, if the Denali Arts Council will have him, the whole idea of bringing him home just felt so right for us and for Bonnie,” she said.
The event invited community members to share their favorite memories of Don Sheldon, as well as hosted live polka music, one of his favorite genres. The memorial concluded with a toast to Don Sheldon and his legacy.
