Johann and family, we’ve loved Justin like family for almost his lifetime. I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. What a beautiful, adventurous obituary perfect for Justin. Lots of love to you all. Buddy’s sister, Phebe James

My sincere condolences to all of Justin’s family and friends. Justin and I grew up six houses away from each other on Owens beach rd. This is where his passion of the outdoors began. Together we spent summers fishing , winters duck hunting and exploring the endless beaches and marshes of the Currituck waters. Barely big enough to shoulder our shotguns or cast our lures to the farthest piling we had the experiences some could only dream of as a child. Getting up before school to tend our nets and crab pots was a ritual we wouldn’t dare miss. I remember before duck season we would explore the banks of the sound in search of the perfect spot to build our brush blind in hopes of a perfect season. No adults, no rules, just us creating memories and experiences that we both cherished our entire lives. We both moved on to live totally separate lives and lost touch along the way, but I often reflected on our friendship and our adventures together and cherish them to this day. Rest in peace my brother, you have taken flight over the horizon and will forever be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing you.

What a life he had. RIP. Prayers for family

Chelsea and family, I am so sorry to learn of the death of your brother and son Justin. Reading his obituary I see that he lived a full, adventurous interesting and incredible life and was loved by many. (Andrew’s mom Jerelyn “Sue”)

I’m sorry for your family’s loss of Justin. I had only met him during a trip to ATA Lodge and instantly took a liking to his southern ways; from the way he spoke, to his genteel manners and his easy getting to know you way about him. He had the cutest charming smile. I know that he took a liking to my daughter, Layne, who worked at the lodge also. He now husbands Nic and her talked about him frequently. I know they loved him like a brother. May you find peace knowing that he is high in the sky, looking down upon us all and enjoying the view. Remember the fine times with him because he certainly shared his good times about you. He will he remembered fondly.

Much love to Johann and family. Thinking about you and wishing peace for all of you as you face the loss of Justin. Ann

I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how much he meant to everyone. The obituary is beautiful and written with much love.

To Justin’s family, We do not need to tell you or anyone what kind of man Justin was. His kindness, the gentleness in his voice, and the way he moved through life with humility spoke for themselves. But I do want to share what he meant to us on the Alagnak River in Alaska. Justin lived a life worth remembering and retelling again and again. I still tell my two boys about him. The stories always drift back to that wild country. Sitting in our jon boats eating trail mix, watching the arctic terns fold their wings and dive for salmon smolt. The day we got stuck on a mudflat on the Kvichak and just laughed about being “all jacked up on the Kvichak.” His runs into King Salmon for gas and supplies. The steady sound of his hammer as he built cabins with quiet focus. Those long evenings when we sat with a beer watching the sun stretch across the tundra in those slow red Alaska sunsets. Looking back now, I realize that the land felt so pure because Justin was part of it. He belonged there the way a river belongs in its channel. Natural, honest, exactly as he was meant to be. His goodness made him a great guide. He listened more than he spoke. He carried himself with an ease and humility that made people open up. He connected to others on a level I have never seen in my life. I feel blessed for the time we had together in Alaska. Blessed for the long days, the cold rivers, the quiet miles of wilderness, and the way Justin made all of it feel alive and meaningful. He was a good man first, and because of that he was a remarkable guide, a loyal friend, and a loving spirit in this world. I will carry those memories for the rest of my life. I hope knowing how deeply he touched the people around him brings some comfort. His legacy is alive on every stretch of water he loved, and in all of us who were lucky enough to share a piece of the journey with him. With my deepest sympathy, Kevin

I guided with Justin for 3 summers. He was a bright light around camp and truly cared for us as we did him. He will be greatly missed. I had the privilege of hunting with him the last day of my season. Miss you Justin.

Sending our thoughts and prayers to your family.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Such a special young man will be missed by so many people, whose lives he touched. My prayers for peace go to you all.

To Justin’s Family, Our sincere condolences, Justin was a truly exceptional person, a loyal friend, and a valued member of our Summerville family. Justin was more than just a long-time employee to us; he was a true brother and a trusted friend whose kind of loyalty is incredibly rare to find these days. We all knew how much he loved the outdoors—whether he was on the water fishing or deep in the marsh or ocean duck hunting. He watched my girls grow from young children into the young women they are today, They affectionately knew him as "Uncle Jut Jut" and that title brought him immense joy. I will forever cherish the memory of him meeting and holding my granddaughter. That moment showed the tender heart behind the outdoorsman. He will be deeply missed by all of us. The Summerville family will truly miss him, and we will never forget the loyalty and joy he brought into our lives. With deepest sympathy, Charles & Helen Summerville

Justin was a wonderful and kind and we will miss him so much. We are going to miss him coming in and catching us up when he was headed to Alaska. Johann and family our thoughts and prayers are with you. Love Autumn and Michael Melson

Justin was kind and cool to me my first year at Alagnak. Sadly, I never got to fish with him, but we spent many evenings enjoying each other’s company and I will miss him dearly. So sorry for your loss, please know you do not grieve alone. j

I am so sorry to hear about Justin’s passing! I enjoyed so much the times I spent with Justin, not so much because of the duck hunting but more so because of the friendship I and my boys developed with Justin. Many times we trusted our lives with Justin because of our high level of confidence we had in him! He was always spot on! Yes, Justin will be missed greatly but we continue telling stories about our times with him! It breaks my heart that Justin is no longer with us!

Sorry to hear of Justin’s passing. My son and I met him in Alaska and he was so kind to us. He saved my son’s life from hypothermia. He had the knowledge and skills like no other. I will never forget him. He truly was an inspiration to any guide world wide. The world was a better place with him. God Bless you all!

We are so saddened to hear of Justin’s passing! He was truly one of a kind and a true joy to spend a day with on the water, whether chasing fish or ducks! He will leave a hole in every place that he served. And I’m quite certain that if you quiet yourself along the rustling waters of the Alagnak River you will hear a sound of mourning…for the waters knew the spirit of the man who ran its waters year after year after year and those hallowed waters will never forget the man who stewarded them well! Rest in peace my friend!

I am greatly saddened by the untimely death of my nephew, Justin. It was about a month ago that I spoke to Justin. He was recovering from his knee surgeries, felt great, and was looking forward to his work in Alaska. My wife, Betsy and I enjoyed his visits to upstate New York, especially driving through the Adirondacks. His parting words were always "I love you guys". Our faith tells us we will see you again. We love you, Justin. Uncle Mike and Aunt Betsy

MY family and friends arrived at ATA lodge Sunday July 16 ready to fish. Went to the pier and sockeye were everywhere. Couldn’t even catch one fish. I walked down river a little and a guide sitting on his cabin porch(Justin) spoke to me. He assured me that Monday morning he would show me some fish. We talked for awhile. I asked him some questions about who would be our guide. He said he didn’t know. I told him I wanted him as our guide. He guided us for a week. A special guide he was and a special person as well. He gave everything he had to make these Texans happy. We had a special thing happen to us on the river that he told us he had never experienced before. We will never forget that. Our Arkansas guide friend Dave Capps was with him. We had such a special week with him that we took more family members and went back the next year. Justin and Dave were our exclusive guides for both trips. He was a thoughtful man and we talked about life and a few scriptures were shared. He enjoyed them. Acts 24:15, Rev 21:3,4. I have so many good pictures of him. We will see him again.

Justin Bleicher was my friend. Although Justin worked for our family, he was more than in employee, he was family. We will remember Justin not just for what he did in life, but for the kind of person he was and the way he made people feel. For more than twenty years, Justin knew the Alagnak River like few people ever have or will. He navigated its braided channels with an ease that only comes from patience, respect, and a lifetime of paying attention. The bends in the river, the shifting gravel bars, the places where the fish held — Justin understood them all. But what made him truly exceptional as a guide wasn’t just that knowledge. It was the way he shared it with others, the clients (who all became friends), and colleagues (who also all became friends) - we all benefited from his sharing with us what he himself knew, loved and lived so intimately. Justin had an infectious enthusiasm for these wild places and for the river that it coursed through it. When guests stepped into a boat with him, they weren’t just going fishing — they were being introduced to something he deeply loved and cherished. And Justin loved to see that moment when someone felt it for the first time: the pull of a salmon, the beauty of the water, the quiet power of the landscape. His excitement became their excitement. His passion opened the river to them and made it alive. But even more than the guide Justin was, we will always remember the person he was. Justin carried a gentle and genuine care for others that you could feel immediately. He was patient, steady, and kind. He made people feel welcome, safe, and valued — whether they had known him for years or had just met him that morning at the boat. Justin was also fiercely loyal. As an employee, a colleague, and a friend, he showed up. He did his work with integrity and pride, and the people around him knew they could count on him. Loyalty like that is rare, and it’s something that leaves a deep mark on the people lucky enough to have shared in it. Those of us who knew Justin well, knew that the river wasn’t just where he worked — it was where he lived most fully. The Alagnak shaped him, and in many ways, Justin became part of it. His knowledge, his stories, his laughter carried across those waters for more than two decades, and the people who shared that river with him will never forget it. Today there is an empty space where Justin once stood — in our lives, in our memories, and along the river he loved so much. But the truth is, the impact he had will never disappear. It lives on in the people he guided, the friendships he built, and the quiet lessons he left behind about kindness, loyalty, and sharing what you love. We were fortunate to know Justin Bleicher. Fortunate to learn from him. Fortunate to share time with him on and off the river. And though we say goodbye to him now, a part of Justin will always remain where he was most at home — in the murmurings of the river’s current, in the stories we will tell, and in the memories we hold dear and will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Rest easy Justin, we will meet again around each bend of the Alagnak River.

Our hearts are broken for all of you. Sending prayers for peace.

A beautiful obituary for a beautiful guy. He took me and Johann duck hunting in his blind. It remains one of my favorite memories. I hope there's plenty of wilderness where he is.