02/26/2026
Justin Noah Bleicher of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina passed away unexpectedly on February 24, 2026. Born on September 6, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky, he was the beloved son of Kathleen Gluck Riddick and Johann Erich Bleicher.
Justin is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathy. He is lovingly remembered by his father, Johann; stepmother, Faye; brother, Jarrett; sister, Chelsea; uncle, Mike (Janet); aunt, Hanni; Michael Riddick; and nephews Trent and Ethan. He is also lovingly recalled by boatloads of his buddies in nature, from Penny’s Hill to Hatteras Island, and from Alaska’s Alagnak to Arkansas’s White.
At the age of two, he moved with his parents to a small commune in Nags Head Woods on the Outer Banks of North Carolina – the beginning of a deep, lifelong attachment to their waters, woods and fields, and a diverse human community.
From Jarvisburg to Harbinger, he learned about the waters and fish. In Martin’s Point, his stepdad, Mike Riddick, taught him to hunt. Growing up included Kitty Hawk Elementary, Manteo High, and the peers he learned to love. Work and play were enmeshed with blinds in the bay, with lines and pots, dredges and nets, and the sound of boats all around.
Justin earned a degree in Geology from East Carolina University, tried a year in the office – “oh how drab” – and then returned to the crabs and the life of a commercial fisherman and waterfowl guide. Alaska became his summer home for twenty-one years as a head guide and captain for Alaska Trophy Adventures. In the spring and fall, he had begun guiding the White River in Arkansas.
From a King Eider duck in the Bering Sea to a treeline-caught catfish in the Neuse River, Justin’s awe of nature was evident to all. His knowledge, laughter, and enthusiasm will be remembered.
A tribute and celebration of Justin’s life will be held at a later date when the weather is warmer, honoring his deep and profound reverence for the water. Please share a message of comfort for the family at gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc was entrusted with arrangements.
