Talkeetna resident Kogl dies

Long time Talkeetna and Denali Park resident Sandy Kogl died Monday after a long illness.

She was well known in dog mushing circles as well as within the National park and conservation communities.  Kogl was instrumental in starting the present-day Denali National Park dog kennels and the winter patrols in 1974.   The kennels were brought back to life with Sandy as the manager after an extended period of the park not having a dog kennel.

Sandy was an author of the first edition of  ‘Sled Dogs of Denali’ and the co-author of ‘Ballad of the Wild Bear’.  She, along with other Talkeetna residents, started the Bear Necessities Coalition.  She is one of many women highlighted in the book ‘National Parks and the Women’s Voice’.  She lived in the Denali Park area for over 20 years before moving to south to Talkeetna.

Kogl lived with ALS, or Lou Gehrigs Disease, for the last year or two.

She leaves behind a brand new grandchild, a son Leif and his wife, daughter Renge’, and her husband, George, as well as countless friends across Alaska.

A memorial will be held at the Sheldon Community Arts Hanger at 5 pm on September the 26^th.

Listeners can stay tuned for further stories on Sandy in the future.