Lifelong Alaskan Robert Dean Hartley died Nov. 3, 2008 surrounded by his family at his home on Finger Lake. He was 85.

Hartley 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 residents of Anchorage.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Palmer. Hartley 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, he worked building Fort Richardson Army Base and Campbell Airstrip.

During World War II, Hartley and his brother, Jim, served with the 10th Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron in the Aleutians, on the 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 still resides today.

In 1947, the three brothers opened Hartley Brothers Garage in North Palmer. In November of that year, Hartley married Marcella Vasanoja, built their “little house” on Finger Lake, and began their life together raising three children.

In 1956, with his brother Jim, Hartley began commercial fishing on Kalgin Island in Cook Inlet. He and his family have continued to fish on the Island every year since.

Hartley 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. Hartley was thoughtful, always looked out for his family and enjoyed being with many friends. The love and the laughter were always there.

Hartley is survived by Marcella, his wife of 61 years; 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 eight 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.

Arrangements entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary. To write and view online condolences, please visit www.alaskafuneralhomes.net.