Dave Wilder

Dave grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Prairie Bible Institute
in Alberta, Canada for seven years of high school and Bible school, graduating in
1968. He partnered with a friend to purchase a small Taylorcraft airplane and
both of them flew to Alaska to begin their adventures.

Dave landed a job as a Fisherman and there began his life as a permanent
resident of Alaska. He met his wife Jacque in Canada attending the same
boarding school. They became fishing partners in Bristol Bay, were engaged, and
married in 1969.

Dave was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970 and filled out his time in Savannah,
Georgia. That time has since become a treasured memory of serving his
Country. Dave went on to become a commercial pilot in the small town of
Iliamna, Alaska, and served the people of the “Lake” area there for 12 years. He
has three children whom he dearly loves and admires for each of their
accomplishments thus far in life.

He went on to acquire his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, moved to Port
Alsworth on Lake Clark in 1980 and has continued to serve our Lake people and
most of Alaska for the past 40+ years. Dave’s passion has always been to serve
people. He was asked to serve on several boards such as Tanalian Bible Camp,
Arctic Barnabas Ministries, and Alaska Seafood Marketing where he was sent
many places around the world to market seafood, all while maintaining his
Commercial Fishing and Flying passions. Another of his passions is serving with
Arctic Barnabas. Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement” (Lk 4:36) and Dave
has both been a servant and an encourager wherever God has planted him.