David William Templin

Dr. David Templin died after short illness on June 6, 2024, surrounded by family and cared for by the attentive staff of Alaska Native Medical Center, where he practiced for 54 years. His final days were filled with joyful, memorable visits from four generals of family, friends and former colleagues.

Born on April 1, 1933 in Billings, Montana, David William Templin was the son of William F. Templin, church planter and itinerant preacher, and Esther Kliewer Templin, a school teacher. He attended Wheaton College in Illinois and received his medical training at the University of Washington in Seattle. While working at a tuberculosis sanitarium in Galen, Mont., he met Mildred “Mickey” Downing, the love of his life. They were married on June 21, 1959.

Mickey was buried last summer on their 64th anniversary.

Dave was commissioned through the U.S. Public Health Service. His first assignment was on the Hopi Reservation in northern Arizona. He continued his studies and service in Phoenix and Seattle, moving his wife and children frequently in the early years of their marriage.

In 1970, he moved his family to Alaska where they settled in Anchorage. As an IHS doctor, David traveled to regional hubs and villages, including Nome, bringing health services to the people rather than expecting every patient to travel to Anchorage.

This was a relatively new practice that resulted in many unique living arrangements in towns and villages without traveler’s amenities. He reluctantly retired from the commissioned corps after 30 years and then continued to work as a consultant and clinician until December 2022. He also participated in groundbreaking NIH research on arthritis conditions unique to circumpolar indigenous populations. He continued to visit remote Alaska until the end of summer 2020, seeing patients in locations from Barrow to Metlakatla, Ft. Yukon to St. Paul Island.

David lived a full life beyond medicine. He supplemented his family’s food with hunting and subsistence fishing. He and his wife were youth group leaders at the First Covenant Church in Anchorage, leading their children and friends on many adventures and into deeper relationships with God.

He drew cartoons that highlighted his quick wit and dry humor. He loved to travel and made time during his clinic visits to enjoy his grandchildren in Kodiak and Juneau. The family has fond memories of treasure hunts where they searched for secret hidden messages that led grandchildren on journeys to hidden treasure chests.

Dave wrote a series of fantasy stories with his grandchildren as heroes. He also wrote an autobiography and a biography of Mickey’s life that were shared with his family and friends.

In spite of physical limitations during the past four years, David remained involved and connected with his family through Saturday morning Zoom meetings and daily phone calls. He loved visits with friends and enjoyed conversations about a wide variety of topics, encouraging civil dialogue and allowing diverse viewpoints to be expressed.

There will be a memorial service on Monday, July 29, 2024 at Anchorage First Covenant Church at 6 p.m.