Dr. Val D Stuve

Dr Val D Stuve passed away peacefully on November 19, 2021 during the lunar eclipse of a full harvest moon.  He’d had a lengthy battle with frontotemporal dementia and is now at rest.

He was born in 1946, raised in northeast Michigan, and spent his youth on the shores of Lake Huron.  He attended Michigan State University and graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).  After graduation he followed his family to Alaska and in 1969 became Alaska’s 46^th licensed veterinarian.

Val began his career at a small animal practice in Anchorage, then moved to Fairbanks in 1971when he accepted a position with Dr. Sachtjen at McKinley Animal Hospital.  Later he became ‘Veterinarian In Charge’ at North Pole Veterinary Hospital.

In 1981 he purchased Aurora Animal Clinic (AAC).  Thirty of his 43 years as a veterinarian were devoted to enlarging and improving AAC from a “one doctor does it all” practice to a facility with five veterinarians and eight support staff.  In 2012 he sold AAC to Dr. Barb Cole who was at that time an AAC veterinarian so it was an easy transition. He continued to assist in orthopedics and surgery at the clinic for several years because, he said, “It’s my favorite part of being a vet.”

Val served as veterinarian on the Iditarod and supported the Yukon Quest through veterinary and volunteer work since its inception.

He loved to write poetry and his often-hilarious verses included rhymes about experiences in veterinary medicine, cabin life, hunting and life in general.  Over the years he contributed articles and poetry to “Alaska Trapper Magazine.” He loved Scottish music and in the early 70’s began playing bass drum with the Bonnie Brae Highlanders and when that group dismantled, he was one of the originating members of the Fairbanks Red Hackle Pipe Band. He spent years as a much-loved member of the band, playing the bass and snare drums until 1999. 

During his career he maintained both his Alaska and Michigan veterinary licenses and memberships with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Alaska Veterinary Medical Association (AKVMA) and Alaska Interior Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA).

Val will be dearly missed by Valerie, his wife of 30-plus years; two cousins in Michigan; an aunt in Florida; and by his many friends and associates in Alaska and Outside.

If you wish to honor Val please consider a memorial donation to the Dr.Val D. Stuve Scholarship for Veterinary Medicine at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Contributions may be made to this fund online at https://bit.ly/stuvescholarship. Checks can also be mailed to the UA Foundation, PO Box 755080, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775. Please include a note/memo indicating the Dr. Stuve Endowed Scholarship for Veterinary Medicine."