Anchorage Daily News November 9, 2008
Lifelong Alaskan Robert Dean Hartley, 85, died Nov. 3, 2008, at home on Finger Lake while surrounded by family. A memorial service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer with a reception afterward at the church.
Bob was born March 13, 1923, in Anchorage, the third son of Leon and Ruth Hartley. His childhood and early school years were spent in Anchorage, where he had the run of the town with his brothers and friends: fishing, riding bikes, hunting, swimming in Lake Spenard "and more or less terrorizing the early citizens of Anchorage," his family wrote. Bob spent time in Kenai, where his family owned the Kenai Commercial Store. He also worked at the old Libbys Cannery, now known as Kenai Landings. Following his high school years in Palmer, Bob worked building Fort Richardson Army Base and Campbell Airstrip. During World War II, Bob and his brother, Jim, served with the 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron in the Aleutians on P510 and P512 crash rescue boats. Bob was in Attu for 18 months. After the war, he returned to the Matanuska Valley. His parents had purchased the St. Clair homestead on Finger Lake, where the family resides today. In 1947, the three brothers opened Hartley Brothers Garage in North Palmer. In November of that year, Bob married Marcella Vasanoja, built the "Little House" on Finger Lake, and began their life together raising three children. In 1956, with his brother, Jim, Bob began commercial fishing on Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet. Bob and his family have continued to fish on the Island every year since. Bob loved working with his hands, building his home, cabins and the "beautiful" wooden skiffs he used for fishing. He loved hunting moose, ducks, geese and caribou. He also enjoyed prospecting, flying and cutting wood. "He found joy in everything he did, and loved the holidays, Thanksgiving being his favorite," his family wrote. "Bob was thoughtful, always looked out for his family, and enjoyed being with many friends. The love and the laughter were always there."
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; son Kirk and daughter-in-law Toni Hartley; daughter Helen and son-in-law Ralph Hulbert of Palmer; daughter Roberta and son-in-law Alvin Swick of Seldovia; oldest brother, Lee Hartley of Palmer; and grandchildren, Keith, Jeff, Griffin and Xandria Swick, Bobby and Kevin Hartley, Ruth and Garth Hulbert, and Capt. Alfred Huff of Homer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Ruth Hartley; and his beloved brother, Jim, whom he missed dearly. To write and view online condolences, visit www.alaskafuneralhomes.net. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Lifelong Alaskan Robert Dean Hartley, 85, died Nov. 3, 2008, at home on Finger Lake while surrounded by family. A memorial service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer with a reception afterward at the church.
Bob was born March 13, 1923, in Anchorage, the third son of Leon and Ruth Hartley. His childhood and early school years were spent in Anchorage, where he had the run of the town with his brothers and friends: fishing, riding bikes, hunting, swimming in Lake Spenard "and more or less terrorizing the early citizens of Anchorage," his family wrote. Bob spent time in Kenai, where his family owned the Kenai Commercial Store. He also worked at the old Libbys Cannery, now known as Kenai Landings. Following his high school years in Palmer, Bob worked building Fort Richardson Army Base and Campbell Airstrip. During World War II, Bob and his brother, Jim, served with the 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron in the Aleutians on P510 and P512 crash rescue boats. Bob was in Attu for 18 months. After the war, he returned to the Matanuska Valley. His parents had purchased the St. Clair homestead on Finger Lake, where the family resides today. In 1947, the three brothers opened Hartley Brothers Garage in North Palmer. In November of that year, Bob married Marcella Vasanoja, built the "Little House" on Finger Lake, and began their life together raising three children. In 1956, with his brother, Jim, Bob began commercial fishing on Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet. Bob and his family have continued to fish on the Island every year since. Bob loved working with his hands, building his home, cabins and the "beautiful" wooden skiffs he used for fishing. He loved hunting moose, ducks, geese and caribou. He also enjoyed prospecting, flying and cutting wood. "He found joy in everything he did, and loved the holidays, Thanksgiving being his favorite," his family wrote. "Bob was thoughtful, always looked out for his family, and enjoyed being with many friends. The love and the laughter were always there."
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; son Kirk and daughter-in-law Toni Hartley; daughter Helen and son-in-law Ralph Hulbert of Palmer; daughter Roberta and son-in-law Alvin Swick of Seldovia; oldest brother, Lee Hartley of Palmer; and grandchildren, Keith, Jeff, Griffin and Xandria Swick, Bobby and Kevin Hartley, Ruth and Garth Hulbert, and Capt. Alfred Huff of Homer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Ruth Hartley; and his beloved brother, Jim, whom he missed dearly. To write and view online condolences, visit www.alaskafuneralhomes.net. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News November 9, 2008
Lifelong Alaskan Robert Dean Hartley, 85, died Nov. 3, 2008, at home on Finger Lake while surrounded by family. A memorial service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer with a reception afterward at the church.
Bob was born March 13, 1923, in Anchorage, the third son of Leon and Ruth Hartley. His childhood and early school years were spent in Anchorage, where he had the run of the town with his brothers and friends: fishing, riding bikes, hunting, swimming in Lake Spenard "and more or less terrorizing the early citizens of Anchorage," his family wrote. Bob spent time in Kenai, where his family owned the Kenai Commercial Store. He also worked at the old Libbys Cannery, now known as Kenai Landings. Following his high school years in Palmer, Bob worked building Fort Richardson Army Base and Campbell Airstrip. During World War II, Bob and his brother, Jim, served with the 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron in the Aleutians on P510 and P512 crash rescue boats. Bob was in Attu for 18 months. After the war, he returned to the Matanuska Valley. His parents had purchased the St. Clair homestead on Finger Lake, where the family resides today. In 1947, the three brothers opened Hartley Brothers Garage in North Palmer. In November of that year, Bob married Marcella Vasanoja, built the "Little House" on Finger Lake, and began their life together raising three children. In 1956, with his brother, Jim, Bob began commercial fishing on Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet. Bob and his family have continued to fish on the Island every year since. Bob loved working with his hands, building his home, cabins and the "beautiful" wooden skiffs he used for fishing. He loved hunting moose, ducks, geese and caribou. He also enjoyed prospecting, flying and cutting wood. "He found joy in everything he did, and loved the holidays, Thanksgiving being his favorite," his family wrote. "Bob was thoughtful, always looked out for his family, and enjoyed being with many friends. The love and the laughter were always there."
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; son Kirk and daughter-in-law Toni Hartley; daughter Helen and son-in-law Ralph Hulbert of Palmer; daughter Roberta and son-in-law Alvin Swick of Seldovia; oldest brother, Lee Hartley of Palmer; and grandchildren, Keith, Jeff, Griffin and Xandria Swick, Bobby and Kevin Hartley, Ruth and Garth Hulbert, and Capt. Alfred Huff of Homer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Ruth Hartley; and his beloved brother, Jim, whom he missed dearly. To write and view online condolences, visit www.alaskafuneralhomes.net. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Lifelong Alaskan Robert Dean Hartley, 85, died Nov. 3, 2008, at home on Finger Lake while surrounded by family. A memorial service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer with a reception afterward at the church.
Bob was born March 13, 1923, in Anchorage, the third son of Leon and Ruth Hartley. His childhood and early school years were spent in Anchorage, where he had the run of the town with his brothers and friends: fishing, riding bikes, hunting, swimming in Lake Spenard "and more or less terrorizing the early citizens of Anchorage," his family wrote. Bob spent time in Kenai, where his family owned the Kenai Commercial Store. He also worked at the old Libbys Cannery, now known as Kenai Landings. Following his high school years in Palmer, Bob worked building Fort Richardson Army Base and Campbell Airstrip. During World War II, Bob and his brother, Jim, served with the 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron in the Aleutians on P510 and P512 crash rescue boats. Bob was in Attu for 18 months. After the war, he returned to the Matanuska Valley. His parents had purchased the St. Clair homestead on Finger Lake, where the family resides today. In 1947, the three brothers opened Hartley Brothers Garage in North Palmer. In November of that year, Bob married Marcella Vasanoja, built the "Little House" on Finger Lake, and began their life together raising three children. In 1956, with his brother, Jim, Bob began commercial fishing on Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet. Bob and his family have continued to fish on the Island every year since. Bob loved working with his hands, building his home, cabins and the "beautiful" wooden skiffs he used for fishing. He loved hunting moose, ducks, geese and caribou. He also enjoyed prospecting, flying and cutting wood. "He found joy in everything he did, and loved the holidays, Thanksgiving being his favorite," his family wrote. "Bob was thoughtful, always looked out for his family, and enjoyed being with many friends. The love and the laughter were always there."
Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marcella; son Kirk and daughter-in-law Toni Hartley; daughter Helen and son-in-law Ralph Hulbert of Palmer; daughter Roberta and son-in-law Alvin Swick of Seldovia; oldest brother, Lee Hartley of Palmer; and grandchildren, Keith, Jeff, Griffin and Xandria Swick, Bobby and Kevin Hartley, Ruth and Garth Hulbert, and Capt. Alfred Huff of Homer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Ruth Hartley; and his beloved brother, Jim, whom he missed dearly. To write and view online condolences, visit www.alaskafuneralhomes.net. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Kehl's Palmer Mortuary. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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