Todd Sterling Ivens - Online Memorial Website

Todd was an amazing man, i admit i didnt have the longest time with him but it was and always will be the best time of my life!

I remember one day i was getting ready for school, it was a friday, and i was about 5 minutes from going out the door to catch the bus and todd was on the couch. He looked at me and said "You know what? Your staying home from school today!" My reply which i never thought i would utter was "But i have school, i cant stay home." He says "I am bored and need a video game partner today, so you are staying home!" He then proceeded to call the principle at my middle school and tell him exactly why i wasnt going to school and that i would be back on monday. We sat there all day playing FarCry his favorite game. He loved to sit there and make maps on the map editor and then we would have people over and we would paly on them for hours. Drinking yucca or whatever was there, usuall alot of Grape Kool-Aid his favorite!

Never will i let a day go by that i dont think of him, he is my inspiration and the dedicaion i have to take every step i make. He is the reason i strive to be a little bit better every day. 

I remember another day when we were at a bon fire in the junk yard and he was tossing paint cans full of tar on the fire and when they would pop open the tar would be so hot it was red and he called it his "Maggmma" (Dr.Evil-Austin Powers) and we laughed so hard.

I love and miss him more then anything in the world. And in his memory my daughter due in april will have the middle name Styrling. Aurora Styrling Madewell, for the both the Aurora Borealis and Todd. She will be strong and beautiful! 

Todd,
Thinking of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christmas time is near and you are in my heart and on my mind. Huggs and prayers for everyone that loves you.
12/2011
Unckle Clarkie

I remember the second day of the '07 family reunion when my sister called my mom and told her about all of the cool stuff she did for her dad's wedding, my mom told me and I go a little jealous because I was stuck at a camp site with kids way younger than me and adults way older than me. uncle Todd looked at me and said "Would you rather be stuck at a stupid wedding or here with me?" I told him I would rather be with him...later that day, we went to the mall and got ice cream. I will never forget the last time I saw him smile as he he drove away to go home to Cali. I also remember trying to convince him to stay 'cause i had the feeling that something was gonna happen, he said no because he had work and he couldn't get any more time off. I wonder how life would be today if I had convinced Todd to stay longer instead of going home.
 I miss you uncle Todd. It'll be three years soon and i still feel like it was yesterday. I love you Toad<3 P.S. I'm gonna open a resturaunt when I get older and I'm gonna name it Toady's Bar and Grill

Today reminds me of the time I mailed Todd a Thanksgiving card and it came back to me 6 months later!  He had already moved to California when it got returned to me. hahahaha.  Nice mail service.  It's unbelievable just how many lives he has affected.  I read through his candles from his friends and the memories and I realize what a lucky man he was to have everyone, but more importantly how lucky WE were to have known and loved him. I miss you big man.....

"Just a Dream" ~ C.U.

The weekend in July of 07 that I spent with my brother and my family is what I will always remeber. The stories he told us about Alaska and Cali and the old stories we went over for the billionth time, it is all so priceless.

Today my kids talk about him and we all laugh. They write stories and Jason tells every dirty, off color joke that Uncle Toddy ever told him.

The one memory I will always cherish is the one I have of Todd and my baby Jason sleeping on the couch in Mom's living room in Fairbanks. Jason was so tiny and Todd, even at 17, was a big boy. It was so beautiful. Thank God for "polaroid" memories.

When we were kids, Todd got in trouble in school and had to dig a drainage ditch for Dad, I had to go and talk to him while he was digging. When we were done talking he picked me up and gave me a piggy back ride into the house. I was 17 and he was not scrawny by any means.

I miss you so badly my big little brother. See you some day soon.

Well, I finally braved up and went out to the shed after Eric's box of Alaska pictures this past weekend.  I'd like to think I did it in honor of your birthday.  In any event, it made me smile to see the two of you again with your other Alaskan friends. 

 

I know you are both still here in spirit watching over us, making sure we're okay.  We miss you.  That's an understatment...thanks for teaching us all how to live.

 

 

 

 

Not really a memory, but a neat little addition to Todd's page here. His Birthday just came and went.  On his Birthday I was snuggling Wrecks and telling him "Today's your dad's birthday!  Today he woulda been 34!!!!!"  I was getting him all hyper.  Mallori looked up from her dinner in the living room and with the most serious face on the planet said "Mommy, Todd died".  Quick to come up with something so she wouldn't be further confused by my abnormal behavior with Wrecks, I said to her "Yes, but he can still hear us!"  So I looked up at the ceiling and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD!!!"  Mallori got this HUGE smile on her face, looked up at the ceiling from her chair and yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD. WE LOVE YOUUUUUU!"

 

She then asked if Todd would be coming over to open presents with us and I told her he would not be, but that he heard our Birthday wishes and that is enough for him.  The smile on her face was priceless during this incident.

 

We really do miss you Todd and we had chocolate and milk in memory of you on your Birthday!  hehehe

 

Love,

your "Girls" 

I have 3 chair wall decorations in my hallway.  They're roughly the size of half a football each.  I have them staggered on the wall and they each have a saying on them regarding friendship.  Anyway, EVERY SINGLE TIME Todd walked down my hallway, he hit the bottom chair with his shoulder and would curse at it.  EVERY SINGLE TIME!  I would walk behind him and laugh and then just straighten it.  He never asked me to take them down and I never offered.  If I was sitting in the living room and heard him curse, I KNEW it was the chairs and eventually just quit asking him what was wrong or what happened.  I knew.  I walk by those now each day and it's one of my favorite memories of him (I suppose I don't actually have a favorite memory because they're all priceless).  Last night I hit it for the first time in 4 years and that made me laugh.  I envisioned Todd pushing me into it actually.   :o)  Those chairs are a nice reminder of who used to walk my hallways...

Todd,

  I will forever miss you my friend! ( YUCCA! ) Its so hard to believe that you are gone. It seems like yesterday we were both contemplating on leaving Alaska. Me because I was tired of the whole (Alaskan Experience), and you because you had met Kelci!

  We started hanging out after getting to know one another at Erics going away party. I will never forget that night! It was Todds first time to ever drive a boat!

Todd, myself, and Brent were hanging out when Dave Lace asked us if we wanted to take his boat for a spin on the river. We could not resist saying no!

  So off we went! 15 bumpy miles later we arive at pikes landing! (Sorta) We passed it and had to turn around...idled up to the dock and bumped right back off of it ( we were heading against the current). The engine died and everyone is pointing and laughing at us 3 floating back down the Chena river. We finally get it started again and make another attempt. (WHAM) Back off the dock again, boat dies again. Todd is getting frustrated at trying to navigate in the current. We get it started again and are idling back up the river ( in the right direction this time) and a little girl about 6 years old comes running down the dock and tells Todd to throw her a rope. So he did and we finally made it to the dock. Bless her little heart.

   So we go into Pikes, order a round, and swiftly depart with beer in hand. (yes we paid first) Anyway we get going again in the boat and are coming up on the riverboat Discovery ( Huge 3 deck paddlewheeler tourist boat). Its packed with people! So Brent and I decide it would be a great time to MOON the passengers.

   We are flying by the Discovery, we drop trowel, and all of a sudden Todd chops the throttle! Oh the horror on mine and Brents faces as we scurry to pull our pants back up! People are hollering and clapping, cameras flashing. Todd just sitting there soaking up the moment and smiling from ear to ear! It was (embareassing) but I would not trade a second of it. We finally arrive back at Daves pad, after rocking a few salmon fisherman nearly out of there boats! What a night! Eric and Ken were ready to send out a search party shortly before we got back. It was a great time!

 

  We also had a blast at Talkeetna, when we went to the bluegrass festival. We passed out the Yucca freely and had people a half mile away hollering (YUCCA!) Not to mention the fun in watching all the drunk hippies!

 

  I sank Dave Laces snowtrac in the Tanana River 2 days before Christmas. It was not done intentionally, but it happened none the less. I spent the next couple of days at Todds house thawing out and getting my senses back together. I think we had pizza and diet pepsi for Christmas Dinner and played a lot of video games. Just 2 guys with no family nearby. Just happy to have each others friendship.

 

  Todd helped me cut the snowtrac out of 6 feet of ice. it took us two and a half days to make a hole big enough to get the machine out. It was about 20 feet deep where I sank it. I swam out of the back of it, just thankful to be alive.

 

  If it were not for Todds help, I would have never gotten it out. I will always be thankful to him, and to everybody else who helped out. ( Thats me kneeling to the right of Todd in one of the pictures here.)

 

  Kelci, I only spoke to you once briefly on the telephone at Todds house. I know that even then he was so excited and looking forward to meeting you. You are all he could talk about. I am so happy that the two of you finally got together!

 

  I wish I could have spent more time with my friend, but am happy that he had others in his life that meant so much. We will miss him dearly!

 

 

When Eric had surgery on his knee he lived in a dry cabin (or in other words he had no running water).  Eric went hobbling outside one day to find a moose between him and the outhouse.  He had to call for Todd and his dogs to chase the moose away so he could safely make it to his destination.  It worked, and for that Eric was grateful.

Our first trip to the snow in December.  You said Mal needs a sled and I told you we didn't have one.  Off to Kmart we went.  Got her a cool bright green sled, a hat, some cool mittens, and me a cool hat.  Went up to the Tehachapi park somewhere up in the hills.  Mal wasn't falling for the whole sled thing, but you talked her into pushing you around and when you made it to the bottom with only minor injuries, she flopped down on her belly and went sledding down the little hill to you.  I remember standing there watching you wipe her off and help her back up the hill and it was very peaceful. You two were a great pair and she loved you very much.  I also remember you hitting dirt some way down the hill and got stuck.  You started hopping the sled up and down on the snow so you could hit deeper snow again and keep sledding; I thought I was going to pee my pants from laughing so hard!  I took a pic of you during this, but I didn't catch the sled airborne.  

Mallori misses her Todd.  She plans to build a spaceship so she can go and "rescue" you in outerspace.  :o)  Granted, Mallori and I had what felt like walking pnuemonia after our day in the snow, but your Alaska system held up just fine!  No one could feel their toes, but what a hoot we had!  Her snowball fights with you are a priceless memory.  You would gather these cute little snowballs so as not to mangle her and she would gather these HUGE monstrous sized ones and mangle you and the dogs.  You were a good sport Todd!  I miss hearing Mal ask everynight, "Where is my Todd?"  Then she would see you and squeal with joy!  "MY TODD!"  Thank you for being so good with her.  Thank you for sharing your so very few days on Earth with me while down here.  We're going to miss you at Christmas this year.....

Love, Kelci

Where to start?
well...met Todd via Ken which of course was via Eric...
What seems like such a long time ago...We all went to Fairbanks to camp out in Eric's front yard.. ha ha (we ended up inside)
so then came along Todd...had to start one of Todd's famous camp fires, which at that time earned him the nick name of "red neck" with my children. 

I have to add, what a BIG heart he had, in listening to your story about about dinner.  Well...another time we were in FAI we went to Todd's favorite restaurant...to eat breakfast, well of course everyone there knew his name and knew what he was gonna order, they were just waiting on the rest of us to decide.  So being a MOM, I hate waste and I decide who is going to share ect... so there is no waste happening.  And our meals show up...THEY ARE HUGE!!!
And Todd's meal shows up smothered in cheese, I mean there was a lot of cheese!!! He eats as much as he can and then confesses that he had always asked for "extra cheese" but by this time that they had drowned it in so much cheese that he can't even eat it all!!! ha ha BUT he doesn't have the heart to tell them that now they have over done it!!

Just a few weeks ago the kids (Devin 14, Cody, Bradley 12, and Spencer 9) were asking when were we going to go to FAI and see our friend "red neck" again.  Ken replied with, well, he had moved away from FAI and we weren't sure when we will be seeing him again. (little did we know)

I am still finding it hard to believe that this is true.  I can say that he is someone I am so happy to have known even if it was for such a short time of my life, he had such a GREAT out look on life!

I just want to leave 4000 memories.  I remember Todd calling me from Alaska after he got off of work.  He would start cooking dinner while we were talking.  I can still hear him talking to his dogs.  Once dinner was almoooost ready, I would hear him say, "OHHHHHHHHHHH, yeahhhhhhhhhhh."  He would say that over and over and over in anticipation of it being ready and in his belly.  It didn't matter if it was a sandwich or some gourmet meal he cooked.  He appreciated every single dinner encounter.  Miss that.

Well, I just heard that Todd and Eric are gone. They were some of my best friends for he past 10 years, I met Eric and A&P school 10 years ago and Todd through Eric. Sadly I had lost touch with them when they left Alaska, but I gather they were enjoying life.

So, one of the memories I have involved the previously mentioned shirt, so heres the whole story...

Eric had gone down to Soldotna to see Todd, I was working in Cooper Landing and met them there. We decided we should all go out fourwheelin, and Todd had some ideas. We wound up on some powerline and gasline trails a little ways out of Kenai. The area is very swampy and boggy, and we came across a section of the trail that crossed some open tundra. We could see where most of the traffic had skirted it but the four wheelers had been going straight across apparently without difficulty. Todd had just got his truck back together and was eager to test it out, so he lined up and hit it as hard as he could. Made it about 50 feet, a little short of half way. Of course he didn't get a little stuck, he held it pinned until the tires were gone, trying valiantly to reach some underground paridise.  When he finally relented, we decided to hook up my truck and try to pull it out. We had to join 2 straps together to reach the rear of his truck, and I gave it a try.  After a few futile attempts at being gentle, (coupled with Eric and Todds taunts) I floored it and the strap broke. We surveyed the damage and reattached, this time tying a knot in the strap. We were all getting frustrated by this time so I hit it as hard as my truck could. The stap never stood a chance. Unfortunatly, Todd was watching from the drivers seat of his truck, over his shoulder through a sliding rear window. After breaking the strap shot straight through the opened window and caught Todd in the nose. The mad scramble that ensued involved a bumpy 5-10 mile ride back in my truck, then an ambulance ride back to Soldotna. I'll spare everyone the details but Todd wound up with reconstructive surgery and had to wear glasses after that. I felt TERRIBLE...  a week later I saw Todd and tried to express my regrets, to which he replies 'Don't worry about it, now my sinuses are fixed'.

I remember Todd driving down to California and he would call me at work every half hour or so and ask where he was.  I remember one of the towns being named "Weed", which cracked me up to even say it.  Marla and I sat in my cubicle and looked up where he was on the map and how far away he was from being here with us.  Thanks Marla!  I was sooooooooo anxious for him to arrive safely.  I remember him pulling into my driveway in the evening when he finally hit town.  I wanted to pass out from sheer joy!  He and the dogs came barreling out of his truck and we hugged for 1/2 hour it felt like.  He was FINALLY here safely from his adventure from Alaska to Cali.  I miss the living tar outta him.  Miss hearing his voice everyday.  Miss being able to contact him whenever I want.  I miss being able to touch him

Eric came home from work one night and said, "I didn't eat my lunch today because Todd took me to Jack-in-the-Box."  He started laughing and shared that it had been really windy that day and when they went to get in Todd's truck they both opened the doors at the same time and WHOOOSH...all Todd's trash, paperwork, and who knows what else flew out. Todd with his trademark smile and good humor said, "Hope there wasn't anything important in there!"  He got in the truck without thinking about it another second and went to lunch.  Having lunch was by far more important than scattered paperwork.

"Todd owes me a shirt."  Eric said with a smile as we were looking through stacks and stacks of 4x4 pictures.  He explained that he had to use his favorite shirt to stop the bleeding when Todd got hit in the face with the tow strap buckle that they were using to try to tow a stuck truck out of the mud. They had to drive Todd 20 or 30 miles to the nearest EMT shack where they then raced him to the hospital another great distance away.  I was in awe of the story amazed that they could make light of it and they did.  When I met Todd he joked about owing Eric a shirt without being prompted by Eric.   They were such good friends and shared so many fun memories from Alaska, most of them involving trucks, mud, rafting, and hanging out.

Todd was one of those people that would help anyone.  He was always willing to help me with any project I had.  All I had to do was mention I sunk my snowmachine in a river and he was already coming up with ideas and ways to get it out of the Chena River.  Don't know if I would have been able to get it done without him. 

 

Todd was also one of the few guys I could count on at work.  Many nights I can remember looking across an engine outside at -50f as the 13th hour dragged on with him still smiling and having something sarcastic to say to lighten the mood.  Many early mornings at Dennys after a long night shift spooling down were spent together. 

 

Todd you will be forever missed.  I had looked forward to one day working with you again.  I'm very happy I had the chance to be your friend and coworker.

 

Tyler