‘Alaska: The Last Frontier,’ a reality series on Discover Channel, has captivated fans’ hearts since its premiere in December 2011. It follows the adventures of the Kilcher family, headed by Atz and Otto Kilcher, at their homestead outside of Homer, Alaska. Swiss immigrants Yule Kilcher and his wife, Ruth Kilcher, were the first Alaskan settlers, and their descendants have now been in the region for more than 80 years. The show gives a detailed insight into how the family survives by hunting, fishing, farming, and preparing for long winters without using technology.
Atz Lee and Jane Kilcher are primary members of the family and have been actively participating in the show since its commencement. Thus, their relationship with the Kilchers and each other remains in focus, apart from their survival skills in the woods. Naturally, their fans must wonder if the couple is doing well and still going strong.
Atz and Jane’s Story Seemed One For the Books
Atz Lee and Jane met each other for the first time in Homer when they were 11 and 12, respectively. The latter was formerly a resident of Anchorage along with her family before moving back to Homer, their hometown. Although the two crossed paths at that time as they lived nearby, it was not until much later that they began a romantic relationship.
Jane was a commercial fisherwoman, just like her family, and lived “surrounded by storms and men.” Meanwhile, Atz Lee, a former professional singer who wandered around the country with his guitar, following his passion for a few years, returned to his roots at the homestead and built his own cabin. Interestingly, the two were married to other people before finding each other.
Jane was married to an Alaskan native, Dicran Kassouni, and they had their daughter Piper Isolde Kassouni in 2003. Atz Lee, on the other hand, was married to Nantia Krisintu, an MBA graduate who met him while visiting Homer for work. The pair had their son Etienne Kilcher in 2001 but separated after a few years. Eventually, Atz Lee and Jane found their way back to each other and reconnected over their love for music, especially the former’s harmonica song.
On November 7, 2006, the couple tied the knot and began living with the extended family in the Kilcher homestead. Since then, as seen in the show, Atz Lee is responsible for hunting and gathering food for the family that could last till the harsh winters, when finding food isn’t possible.
After leaving her work as a commercial fisherwoman, Jane began using her skills for fishing, hunting with her husband, building their cabin together, horse riding, etc., to survive at the extreme end of the world. However, throughout 11 seasons, the couple has faced various challenges, which makes their fans wonder if they are still together, and we’re here to find just that.
Atz Lee and Jane Have Parted Ways
While Atz Lee and Jane encountered their fair share of tough days, they initially seemed to be doing great. It was in 2015 when the former met with a near-fatal accident, leaving the latter scared to the core. While on a hike with a friend, he fell off a cliff looking for his companion and sadly got severely injured. He broke around 26 bones and wounded his lungs, but fortunately recovered from the accident over a few months. Fans then saw the strong and beautiful couple celebrating their ten years together with a vow renewal ceremony on Valentine’s Day 2016.
Surprisingly, viewers even trolled the couple, specifically Jane, as they dared to show all sides of their life, both positive and negative, on the show. Addressing the criticism in a social media post, Jane wrote, “I have to say, I am in shock at all the hate towards someone who is so poetic, non-judgmental, and genuinely a person that speaks from the heart. Our show films us for like 200 hours that go into a 42-minute episode… our editors can in no way capture all that happens in our lives.”
Sadly, some also criticized these stars for their appearance and rumors about them getting divorced. Little did anyone know that although the couple initially confidently dealt with the trolls while raising their two now-adult children, the latter would soon come true. It was in July 2023 that Jane announced their separation, stating: “Here we go. Atz Lee is divorcing me and it is very unfortunate but I cannot control it. Lost my best friend and it hurts but I guess that is life . It won’t stop me ❤️”
On the other hand, it doesn’t appear as if Atz Lee has ever publicly spoken about his relationship with Jane and the reason for their split – instead, it seems like he is simply focusing on his life as a nature lover, outdoorsman, homesteader, and public figure.
Read More: Where Was Alaska: The Last Frontier Filmed?
