Robert (Bob) Harvey Mellin, born in Avon, Ohio to Charles and Mary Mellin Feb. 11, 1914, was at home Oct. 15 when he joined his wife in Heaven. He was 95.

Mellin graduated from Chicago’s Austin High School in 1934 and joined the Marine Reserve Corp. In August 1936, he enlisted in the Navy until his Honorable Discharge as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Second Class August 1940, 16 months before the Pearl Harbor bombing.

In the Navy, he served on the USS Antares, USS Texas and USS Arizona. On the USS Arizona he and a pilot, on a test run, lost their engine and ditched their plane into the Pacific Ocean miles off shore of Hawaii. Before the plane sank Bob inflated a life raft. They were rescued several hours later. In 1939, while on shore leave at Long Beach, Calif., Bob met his life love, Patricia. They married Aug. 16, 1941 in Las Vegas.

In March 1942, he came to Alaska with the War Department’s civil service division working on Elmendorf Air Force Base supervising 150 men between the recip shop, the prop shop and the jet engine repair shop until his retirement June 1970.

In 1943, his wife came to Alaska. While living in Anchorage they had four children.

Inspecting crash sites of planes thoughout Alaska, Bob used any mode of transportation. A crash site on the Susitna Flats was accessed by a dog team with he and Joe Redington Sr. Devising a system of skies, Bob was able to have the jet flown safely back to Elmendorf.

In the 1940s, Bob and Patricia frequently traveled by train from Anchorage to Pittman, got off with pack boards and walked several miles to visit a friend. They found a piece of land in 1949, homesteaded and built their log cabin that later turned into a log home in 1970.

Together they traveled the Alcan Highway in 1946, 1956 and 1966. They loved and protected ducks that wintered every year for 60 years. This year, Bob, known locally as the Duck  Man, was told by Fish and Game to stop feeding the ducks or be fined.

He loved to read, garden, take walks, smoke salmon and ice skate. His large lilac tree, rescued after the ’64 earthquake from a house on L Street is testimony to his green thumb.

A life-long passion was his strong conviction for Republican politics. Although he never held office, he could quote verbatim the Constitutional rights of all Americans and the law of the land as it was created by and for the people. He was a true American patriot.

An avid reader, his mind was sharp as a tack until the day he died. His compassion and care for the land, all animals and everyone he loved, is the legacy he leaves his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Patricia of 57 years; his siblings Lester Mellin, Chuck Mellin, Valli Mae Cuyler and their spouses and great-great-nephew Stephen Anthony Milewski.

He is survived by his daughter Beverly Tanner and husband Yukon Don of Talkeetna and Meadow Lakes; sons Robert Mellin and Charles Mellin of Anchorage, daughter Barbara McNeil of Anchorage; grandsons, Chris Anderson of Talkeetna and Robbie Mellin of Anchorage; granddaughters, Jennifer Duescher and husband Timothy of Wisconsin, Lisa Wallace and husband David of Anchorage, Danielle Page and husband Paul of Wasilla, Kris Cunningham and husband Jeff and Kim Muller and husband Branch of Arizona; step-grandchildren Aaron, Jesse and wife Jennifer, Kristi, Zachariah and Teagen Tanner, all of Wasilla; great-grandchildren, Noah Duescher, Alexander, Xavier and Hunter Anderson, Brooke and Bailey Wallace, Elizabeth, Samuel, Paul Jr. and Suzanna Page, Paisley Muller, Conner and Ellie Cunningham; nephews, John Mellin and wife Mari-Ann, Tim Mellin and wife Marge of Illinois; nieces, Lisa Penner and husband Henry; Karen Mellin of Oregon; and many great-nieces, great-great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nephews; his special friend and past son-in-law, John Schiemann of Wasilla; and his loving caregivers Ruth Casey, Muriel Compton and Rhonda Newman.

Cremation arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla. A gathering of family and friends will be Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. Call Beverly at 354-7472 for information regarding the memorial service.

If you wish, in his memory, donations may be sent to your local pet shelter.