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Atilla Kuno “Atz” Kilcher is the oldest son of Yule F. Kilcher and Ruth Weber. [1] He is one of the stars on the Discovery show Alaska: The Last Frontier, which focuses on the Kilcher homestead established 80 years ago outside of Homer, Alaska on Kachemak Bay.[2]
Early Life
[edit]According to his Google search without any independent verification, Atz was born September 2, 1947. He is the oldest of 8 siblings, who consist of his brother, Otto, who is also on the Discovery TV show, and 6 sisters: Wurtilla Hepp, Fay Graham, Catkin Kilcher Burton, Stellavera Kilcher, Mossy Kolcher and Sunrise Sjoeberg. [3] Atz published a book on February 6, 2018, titled Son of a Midnight Land: A Memoir in Stories. He documents his life growing up on his family’s homestead, his role in the Vietnam War, and life as a social worker. He also describes the hardships he faced when he had to deal with his father, Yule Kilcher, and his ever present angry moods. Atz reflects on what he learned from working with his father and how that shaped him into who he is today.[4]
Due to the elementary school being too far to walk for the children, the Kilcher siblings were homeschooled by their mother until they were teens.[3] In high school, Atz was an athlete, competing in skiing, basketball, wrestling, and cross country. [4]
He was drafted in 1967 for the Vietnam War where he spent just under 2 years in the Army. He returned home and married Lenerda Carroll, and had three children. His oldest, Shane, works on the homestead along with his youngest son, Atz Lee. His daughter, Jewel, is a Grammy-winning pop singer. [4][5]
Kilcher Homestead
[edit]The Kilcher Homestead was established when Yule Kilcher moved to Alaska in 1940 and was given 160 acres of federal land to homestead. Ruth and the children helped work the homestead while Yule travelled for months at a time to Juneau as a state Senator. [2] Over time, the homestead grew to over 600 acres of land. [5]
In the 1990’s, Yule established the Kilcher Family Trust, which made it so the homestead couldn’t be divided between his children, but would remain intact for future generations of Kilchers to work the land he so loved. [3] The homestead is owned by all 8 Kilcher siblings.[3]
The family offers tours of the homestead, where an original cabin has been turned into a museum. There, old tools are displayed which were used for farming. As one of the siblings gives a tour, they offer first hand stories of growing up on their homestead.[5]
Singing and Song Writing Career
[edit]Atz is a known celebrity in the state of Alaska. He writes and sings his own songs about his life experiences. He is also known for his yodeling.[5] He and his daughter, Jewel Kilcher, in her early life, travelled the state of Alaska preforming his songs and yodeling together.[4]
Alaska: The Last Frontier
[edit]Discovery Channel started producing the TV Series Alaska: The Last Frontier. The show is in its 10th season, and features Atz, his brother Otto, and other family members from the Kilcher clan. [2]
References
[edit]- ^ McFarland, P. J. (1999). Angel standing by : the story of Jewel. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-19827-2. OCLC 39887151.
- ^ a b Alaska: The Last Frontier, retrieved 2021-04-07
- ^ a b c "KILCHER SISTERS REFLECT ON HOMESTEAD LIFE". Homer News. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ a b c d Kilcher, Atz Lee (2018). Son of a Midnight Land. Ashland, OR: Blackstone Publishing. ISBN 1-5047-6339-4. OCLC 1016966084.
- ^ a b c d "Kilcher Family Homestead". ALASKA.ORG. Retrieved 2021-04-07.