Alaska: The Last Frontierand A Pioneer Family, an American reality series telecasted on the Discovery Channel documented the daily lifestyle of Yule and his wife and his extended family. The popular American cable series has been presenting the four generations of Kilchers with their subsistence way of living and the family’s survival abilities. Not to forget, the Emmy-nominated reality cable television show is currently in its tenth season and has millions of fans by an authentic showcase of their struggle and solid family values. Here is everything about their remarkable journey.
Who was Yule Kilcher?
Yule Farenorth Kilcher, an Alaskan American politician was born on March 9, 1913, in Switzerland by the name Julius Jacob Kilcher. In the mid-1930s, he left his native land and migrated to America before the onset of World War II in search of a peaceful place to live as severe tensions mounted in Europe due to Nazi empowerment. He was a farmer, idealist, frontier pioneer and homesteader, journalist, and probably a well-recognized politician in Alaska State.
Kilcher served to write the constitution of the Alaska state Senate from 1963 to 1967 before returning to his hometown of Homer. He was also one of the delegates to Alaska's pre-statehood constitutional convention in 1955-1956. He left this world on December 8, 1998, at the age of 85 in Homer, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States.
Early Life of Yule Kilcher
To talk about his childhood, he was raised by his father, Edwin Otto Kilcher, and his mother, Lina in Laufen, Switzerland. His siblingswere Linely Kilcher, Edwin Otto Kilcher, and Erna Kilcher. He completed his matriculation exam from the Kantonsschule Solothurn in 1932. Afterward, he studied philology and archeology at the University of Berne and the University of Berlin.
Profession Swing of Yule Kilcher
Yule and his wife set up a 600-acre homestead on the shores of Kachemak Bay, which is an unspoiled piece of wilderness located. He chooses to live a simple life to fight with the wild, raising cattle, hunting, and fishing in the harsh climatic conditions of Alaska. He worked hard to provide great hospitality to make his home very popular among many famous musicians and military personnel. At the suggestion of his longtime friend and neighbor, Dixie Belcher of Juneau reported that guests included everyone from Hollywood executives to Cambodian priests to German millionaires. However, the family has also encountered a few challenges outside of Alaska, such as being accused of engaging in illegal hunting. Unfortunately, the Kilchers have been criticized by PETA, an organization dedicated to animal welfare, who have falsely accused them of killing a bear.
Besides being a reality TV star, Yule also carried out independent careers from journalist to politician, he was the potential senator of Alaska State for four years. In 1955, he helped draft the constitution of Alaska’s new state. Moreover, he also participated in the Committee on Administration Ordinances, and Transitional Measures.
Extended Family of Yule Kilcher
He married an American citizen Ruth Weber, who was born in Pratteln, Switzerland in 1941. All eight of their children - Atz, Otto, Wurtilla, Fay, Catkin, Stellavera, Mossy, and Sunrise were nurtured on the family farm. As there were no accessible roads to travel to the town, 12 miles away, all of the children were homeschooled until their early teens. The family also taught their children to milk the cow, children folk songs, to make cheese and butter, and read bedtime stories with the kerosene lamp. After a couple of years, Yule came up with an idea to make a documentary of their subsistence lifestyle, making the homestead and Alaska famous all over the world.
Atz Kilcher was their first child born on September 2nd, 1947. Atz Lee, Shane, and Jewel Kilcher are his three kids. The American singer Jewel Kilcher, also known by her first name Jewel, was born in 1974. She is the daughter of yodeling singer, and songwriter Attila Kuno alias Atz Kilcher, who is the son of Yule Kilcher. Also, Jewel has been nominated for a Grammy four times. All of the grandchildren of Yule Kilcher appeared on the reality show.
Net Worth and income source of Yule Kilcher
Yule constructed a homestead on 660 acres of land for farming. Most of his revenue was generated from farming the land. However, his politics and journalism career also favored him. According to the relevant sources, his net worth was estimated to be worth $100,000. Yule and Ruth Kilcher’s sixth child, Otto Kilcher, an American mechanic and reality television personality who has a net worth of 4 million dollars as per sources.
Currently, the value of the family homestead is estimated to be worth 16 million dollars. Also, the huge show on the discovery, Alaska: The Last Frontier made about $1,500 per episode or about $19,500 for a standard 13th episode season because of the huge fanbase.
Marriage VS Divorce
Ruth Webber was sociable and bold as Yule Kilcher when they first met each other. The brave and free-spirited woman left her hometown just before the devastating second world war took place. Her daring brought her to Alaska at the age of 21, where her destiny introduced her to Yule. They blended perfectly and got married immediately and started living off the grid, far from civilization.
Despite hardly knowing each other, the couple was happy and successful to build their perfect world throughout their 28-year marriage. Afterward, they had eight children throughout their marriage. Nearly three decades into their marriage, their relationship hit an all-time low. Due to their insurmountable differences, they got divorced and separated. Thus, Ruth supposedly remarried afterward, whereas Yule didn’t.
Relationship Facts of Yule Kilcher
- Ruth Weber met Yule Kilcher when she was 21.
- Ruth was an astonishing young spirit when she met Yule in Alaska and both started dating.
- Yule Kilcher married an American citizen Ruth Weber in 1941.
- The couple spent 28 years of togetherness before finally splitting their ways apart.
- Yule stayed single afterward but Ruth got married.
StarFacts of Yule Kilcher
Real Name | Yule Farenorth Kilcher |
Popular Name | Yule Kilcher |
Birth Name | Julius Jacob Kilcher |
Age | 85 |
Date of Birth | March 09, 1913 |
Birth Place | Laufen, Canton of Basel, Switzerland |
Parents | Lina and Edwin Otto Kilcher |
Profession | Journalist, Senator, Television Personality and Homesteader |
Wife | Ruth Weber (divorced) |
Children | Eight (Atz, Otto, Catkin Kilcher Bruton, Fay Graham, Mossy Kilcher, Stellavera Kilcher, Sunrise Sjoberg, and Wurtilla Hepp) |
Siblings | Linely Kilcher, Edwin Otto Kilcher, and Erna Kilcher |
Ethnicity | Caucasian |
Nationality | Swiss-American |
Death | 08/12/1998 |
Death Place | Homer, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States |
Net worth | More than $100k |
Social Media | N/A |