Patrick David Lieske
On the evening of April 15, 2024, Patrick David Lieske passed away due to an accidental drowning while crossing the Santa Ynez River in Santa Barbara, CA, on his mountain bike. Patrick was 53 years old.
Patrick was born in Pittsburg, and raised in North Canton, OH. After graduating from Hoover High School in 1989, he then enlisted in the U.S. Army for four years, serving at Fort Leonard, MO, and in Germany. He attended University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, on the GI Bill, graduating in 1998 with a bachelor’s in wildlife biology and natural resources. He then completed a master’s degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI in 2004.
After graduation, Patrick worked in Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon. He spent seven years working first as Forest Assistant Wildlife Biologist, then the past five years as Forest Wildlife Biologist for the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF), Supervisor’s Office. Patrick participated on at least 25 wildfire assignments as a resource officer and was a key member of the Burned Area Emergency Response team. He collaborated extensively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NOAA Fisheries on several wildfire restoration projects across the LPNF. Patrick worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help save a remnant population of bighorn sheep in the Sespe Wilderness, and with the USFWS to help recover federally endangered California condors across the LPNF from Big Sur to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary. He coordinated with all Los Padres program staff areas including fire, fuels, recreation, wilderness, trails, roads, range, minerals management and law enforcement to protect sensitive wildlife, fish, and plants resources.
What set Patrick apart from most was his love and dedication to all animals wild and domestic, giving them a voice through his resolute work in support of them. He was an ardent wildlife biologist and ornithologist, participating in many Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in the Southwest. He was also a skilled martial artist, who held a black belt in karate and enjoyed mountain biking and hiking the LPNF backcountry. On weekends, he could often be found retrofitting his Ford Econoline 150 van, which he called “Horatio,” and glamping with his life partner, Anh Nga.
Patrick was preceded in death by his grandparents, Uncle Butch and nephew Joshua. He is survived by his soulmate Anh Nga Johnson; his mother, Arleen Lieske; his father, Michael Lieske; his brothers Jon (Valerie) and Bryan (Sheila); nephews and nieces Carson, Kaitlyn, Colton, Sara, Sophia, Jacob; and uncles, aunts, and cousins from Wisconsin.