Sherwood “Woody” Knebel passed away on October 12, 2025, at age 69 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Woody lived an extraordinary life shaped by curiosity, kindness and a profound love for nature, family and community. Born in Sitka, Alaska to missionary parents, he grew up surrounded by native culture and stunning wilderness. He later moved with them to the jungles of Argentina and the prairies of Alberta. Upon settling in Victoria, British Columbia, he spent countless hours diving in the waters off Vancouver Island. Those childhood encounters with the natural world sparked an adventurous spirit that would eternally guide him.
In his early 20’s, Woody began his career in Alaska’s seafood industry. He began in Bristol Bay with Bumble Bee Seafoods and later in The Kodiak Archipelago with Ocean Beauty Seafoods, where he retired in 2020. As the Superintendent of the Alitak processing plant, he fostered a close-knit community, rooted in respect for people and place. Woody’s legacy will continue through the museum of artifacts he curated, currently in the process of relocating to the Kodiak Maritime Museum, as well as the stories he preserved, the images he captured and the lives he touched.
Woody was a gifted and self-taught photojournalist, anthropologist and author whose work documenting Alutiiq petroglyphs led him on extraordinary journeys, including surviving a near-fatal encounter with a Kodiak grizzly bear while researching and writing The Cape Alitak Petroglyphs: From the Old People (The Donning Company Publishers), a book that became a vital link to Alutiiq heritage.
Living with Parkinson’s disease for over 30 years, Woody met life with courage, humor and grace, never once complaining of the challenges he faced. As a resident of Minton House in recent years, he was deeply grateful for the friendship and support from all who knew him.
*When an eagle soars or a whale breaks the surface of the sea, that is Woody saying hello*
Woody is survived by Cydna, daughter Paget, son in law Joel, and baby grandson Hugh.
His sparkle, humor, and zest for life will be deeply missed.
Donations may be made in his honor to the Parkinson’s Wellness Project in Victoria, British Columbia or The Alaska Fishermen’s Fund in Juneau.
A Memorial Service for all who loved Woody will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, at 2:00 pm.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Knebel” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
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allan radke
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Gary Raven To the Knebel family,
I was so sorry to hear of Woody’s passing, and send my heartfelt condolences to you all. May memories of him, and his wonderful legacy, last forever.
I knew Woody as a co-worker for many years. I greatly admired the path he walked, and the footprints he left upon this planet. His scope of interest and expertise greatly surpassed that of the workaday world, to intimate and extensive knowledge of cultures and peoples who came before him. The way he integrated a historical perspective into his Alitak location, by virtually making it a working museum in addition to a bustling fish processing plant, demonstrated his love and respect for things old and new. Woody was always willing to share his stories, experiences and knowledge- with a kindness and sense of humor that was heart-warming and inspiring. All that crossed paths with him at Alitak left with a new sense of connection to the world of salmon, to prior generations of fishermen, and to prior civilizations of people who dwelt upon the land. I sincerely hope that his many artifacts and lifetime of discovery and knowledge continue to nourish the minds of the next generation. Woody was a one-of-a-kind human being and will be sorely missed.
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Scott Craven My sincerest condolences to Woodys family for your loss.
We were childhood friends and spent lots of time on the beach,riding minibikes and doing kid stuff back in the late 1960’s.
I will always remember him as an eternal optimist and a kind person.
Goodbye old friend.
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Neil Sutherland Cydna, Paget and family.
Sincere condolences on the passing of Woody. Woody was a true gem of a friend when I first moved to Victoria to attend UVic. Warm, welcoming, challenged me through assorted activities such as SCUBA diving, kayaking, hiking, surfing, climbing, travel, the list goes on. Adventure was in his blood. Left quite a legacy of exploits amongst myself and his many friends and we have all enjoyed regaling a long list of happier times spent with him, as well as with yourself Cydna.
Kind and warm regards, Neil
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Brad, Kay, Bristol, Arin, Avery and Miles U The Underwoods send their condolences to Cydna, Paget and the rest of the Knebel family. Woody will be remembered for many things, but two qualities that stand above the rest were his humor and his kindness. We are saddened by his passing, but he will live on in the many wonderful adventures we shared. Woody was truly one of a kind. We are grateful that he was part of our lives and we will always be thankful for his friendship.
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Russ and Darlene Ricketts Cydna,Paget,Joel and Hugh,
Our sincere Condolences go out to the entire Knebel family. Woody’s blonde hair and Viking blood was always on display in every endeavour he took on. His life was full of adventure and testing the limits of being human. He loved his music. Deep Purple,Steppenwolf and many other 70’s bands could be heard blocks away when I rode my bike to his family house.
Woody was a true friend and growing up I knew I could always count on him in time of need. His spirit will live on as a guiding light for his family.
Rest in peace my friend. You lived a full life and I’m sure our paths will cross again.
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Gary Rozelle sr Condolences and Prayers for the Knebel Family. Thank you Cydna for putting this out there a wonderful way to send a wonderful Man like Woody to his resting place. He may be gone from this World But Never will be forgotten. He was Loved by all who knew Woody. Was a Sad Day when we got the News. He would be so proud to be a Grandpa. Sure still Miss Him at Alitak it will never be the same with out him. I told him a few times Woody you can’t retire unless I do he said okay we will just have to wait and see when that day comes. Well he retired 5 years before me. Rest in peace my Friend calm seas Fair winds we shall see you Woody on the other side.
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Karyn & Ben Dear Cydna, Paget and family,
We have so many fond memories over the past 30 years of becoming close friends with all of you. Woody was very entertaining to talk to and always had a story and beautiful photographs! We so loved the buffet dinners you would put on to welcome Woody home for the fall/winter. We sure did have some great fun.
One of Ben’s greatest adventures was to visit Woody in Alitak and experience all of the nature, beauty, and history that Woody had written about. He was so respected and cherished by all the fishermen and staff at the plant. It was an exciting time for Ben with float planes, tender boats, salmon and grizzlies.
Thank you Woody, Cydna, and Paget for your close friendship and some exciting experiences! You are missed Woody!
Your good friends from 62nd St with much love – Karyn & Ben
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Rod Leung and Julia Clark Cydna – these are beautiful words that really capture who Woody was – body and soul. It was interesting to learn about all the countries and cultures that he was able to experience growing up. His love for family, friends and nature was ever present.
Our love to you, Paget and family. We’re so sorry for your loss.
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Jackie Reed Cydna
So sorry.for your loss. He sounds like an amazing man. Sending hugs.Jackie
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Bruce Davies Cydna,
What an amazing tribute to Woody. And what an amazing life he led. So sorry I never got to meet him and, through our talks in res and this amazing tribute, I got to know him.
Peace be with you, your daughter and family.
To the Knebel family;
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
You will not know me, But I am one of the people that woody affected profoundly
I met woody twice, once when we were quite young ,early to mid 1960’s , in a small town called barrhead alberta,
he was the coolest kid in town, he had a real Teepee and cooked “bear meat ” over an open fire, We became friends and I was very sorry he left town. Our young boy adventures involved the forests and dreaming of living like first nation kids.
some of those adventures would be appropriately be called misbehaving , but never in a mean way, he had a strong sense of ethics that he imparted on to me. I assumed we would never see each other again
Over a decade later while I was attending my first year of collage, far away from my home town; imagine my surprise to find out that a dorm mate of mine was none other than Woody. This amazing coincidence was taken by me as a sign . I knew we would again become fast friends
Again we had the adventures of young men, misbehaving ,but never in a mean way, His sense of ethics prevailed , Woody was profoundly ethical.
one particular memory involves us hitch hiking all over southern Alberta and BC, While standing on the road , I threw away a food wrapper , He explained to me that this was not ethical , and I forever changed my behavior . My respect for him was such that only a few words could affect me like that.
he will forever in my mind be the coolest popular kid filled with honour and adventure, like a modern day Tom Sawyer
Thanks for allowing me to share my memories, I am honored that he was my friend
Allan Radke