End of the Trail
Lovelock, Nevada, a large open pit, heap leach operation in Lovelock, Nevada. In 1989, Wheeler took over as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur, bent on making the company a major world gold and silver producer. Over the course of the next 20 years, the company purchased and developed mines on three continents, in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Mexico in South America; in Australia and New Zealand, and in Alaska at the Kensington gold mine outside Juneau. Sensitive to the environmental reputation mining had devel- oped from its early, frontier days, Wheeler became a force in environmentally responsible mining and conservation in Idaho, Nevada and Alaska, earning numerous environmental awards for the company and developing the motto for Coeur that still stands of “Producing and Protecting.” He is survived by his wife Jackie, daughters Michelle and Wen- di Wheeler and Maura Schmidt; son Bradley; and granddaugh- ters Taryn, Trista and Tori Wheeler and Sara Carley. Robert Appleford 1953 - 2019
Dennis E. Wheeler 1942 - 2019
Dennis E. Wheeler , who took a mining company started from his grandparents’ bakery in Wallace, Idaho, and built it into a $2 billion international gold and silver mining enterprise on three continents, including the Kensington mine outside Ju- neau, has died. He was 76.
Wheeler was one of the last of the larger-than-life entrepre- neurial businessmen who emerged from the mining world of the American West in the late 20 th century, the driving force in- side his company, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation. Wheeler was born in 1942 in Wallace, the county seat in the heart Idaho’s Silver Valley – the Coeur d’Alene Mining District – one of the major silver mining regions of the world where more than two billion ounces of silver would be drawn from deep un- derground shafts in the 20 th century. Dennis earned undergraduate and law degrees from Univer- sity of Idaho, and joined Coeur d’Alene Mines, as the com- pany purchased another mine in Idaho, Thunder Mountain in the 1960s, and opened the Rochester gold and silver mine in
Robert Jay Appleford, 65, of Fairbanks, passed away March 31.
Robbie was born on Nov. 30, 1953, in Lewiston, Idaho, to Mary and Edison Appleford. He grew up on a ranch in Anatone, Washington, and came to Alas- ka in 1976 with college friends Clark Simpson and Rick Kamerrer.
Robbie worked on the Trans Alaska Pipeline but found his real love in mining. He mined all over Alaska including Harrison Creek, Central, Eureka, Circle, Manley, Tofty and Fairbanks. On Robbie’s last adventure he was headed to Rampart. Robbie married Joni Campbell on Oct. 23, 2002, at the Chatan- ika Lodge. He had a knack for fixing things and was an excellent fabricator and welder. He was able to do any kind of work he put his mind to, but the majority of his time was spent operating heavy equipment and as a heavy equipment mechanic. He was a retired member of the International Union of Operat- ing Engineers Local 302, and was a member of the Fairbanks Miners Association. He is survived by his wife, Joni; brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Barb Appleford; stepsons, Aaron and Andrew Simmons and stepdaughters, Jessica Simmons and Cassey; as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Online condolences may be made to the family at Blanchard- familyfuneralhome.com.
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2019
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