Woody Knebel | Obit

Sherwood “Woody” Knebel

Woody lived an extraordinary life shaped by curiosity, kindness and a profound love for nature, family and community. Born in Sitka, Alaska to missionary parents, he grew up surrounded by native culture and stunning wilderness. He later moved with them to the jungles of Argentina and the prairies of Alberta. Upon settling in Victoria, British Columbia, he spent countless hours diving in the waters off Vancouver Island. Those childhood encounters with the natural world sparked an adventurous spirit that would eternally guide him.

In his early 20’s, Woody began his career in Alaska’s seafood industry. He began in Bristol Bay with Bumble Bee Seafoods and later in The Kodiak Archipelago with Ocean Beauty Seafoods, where he retired in 2020. As the Superintendent, of the Alitak processing plant, he fostered a close-knit community, rooted in respect for people and place. Woody’s legacy will continue through the museum of artifacts he curated, currently in the process of relocating to the Kodiak Maritime Museum, as well as the stories he preserved, the images he captured, and the lives he touched.

Woody was a gifted and self-taught photojournalist, anthropologist and author whose work documenting Alutiiq petroglyphs led him on extraordinary journeys, including surviving a near-fatal encounter with a Kodiak grizzly bear while researching and writing The Cape Alitak Petroglyphs: From the Old People (The Donning Company Publishers), a book that became a vital link to Alutiiq heritage.

Living with Parkinson’s disease for over 30 years, Woody met life with courage, humor and grace, never once complaining of the challenges he faced. A resident of Mercer Island for 35 years, he was deeply grateful for the SE 62nd Street neighborhood and the place he proudly called home.

*When an eagle soars or a whale breaks the surface of the sea, that is Woody saying hello*

Woody is survived by Cydna, daughter Paget, son in law Joel, and baby grandson Hugh. His sparkle, humor, and zest for life will be deeply missed.

Donations may be made in his honor to the Parkinson’s Wellness Project in Victoria, British Columbia or The Alaska Fishermen’s Fund in Juneau.

A memorial service for all who loved Woody will be held Saturday, March 21st at 2:00pm at SEQUOIA CENTRE AT: MCCALL GARDENS, 4665 FALAISE DRIVE, VICTORIA, BC – V8Y 1B4.