Robert A. Nilsen

Robert A. Nilsen passed away on 6 December 2022 in Soldotna. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Palmer on 21 April 2023 at 12:10 pm. There will be a gathering of family and friends in the church hall after the Mass.

Bob’s remains will be interned at the Angelus Columbarium in Anchorage. He was born July 30, 1931, in Whitefield Maine. He graduated from Lincoln Academy, New Castle Maine class of 1949. After graduation he entered the Regular Army and served in the occupation of Germany. He retired after 33 years of Regular Army and Reserve duty with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. Last assignment was Commander of the 78th Davison Drill Sergeant Academy Fort Dix, New Jersey. His awards included the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, German Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, and several service ribbons. He also was employed by Allstate Insurance Company first as an Account Executive and later opened his own Allstate sales office. After retiring, he and his wife Joan moved to Alaska to be with their three children and four grandkids that had made the move a few years earlier. He and Joan resided in Eagle River for eight years before moving to Palmer.

Bob was very active in ministries at St. Michael Catholic Church and served several years as a Eucharistic Minister. He also volunteered at the church food court (Slippery Gulch) during the annual State Fair. Bob was a fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and past Master Fourth Degree as Grand Knight, four years as District Deputy.

He was a life member of the VFW, American Legion, and Association of the US Army, US Constabulary, NRA, Elks, and past member of the Palmer Moose Lodge. His youngest son Bruce J. Nilsen of Wasilla preceded him in death on 22 November 2008.

Bob also leaves two living children, Dennis W. Nilsen and wife Barb of Soldotna, Tina M. Bosela and husband Rich Bosela of Soldotna; grandsons, Robert Schnell and wife Krista of Eagle River, Michael Schnell and wife Sierra; and great grandson Steven of Palmer. Daughter in-law Sharon Nilsen of Beaverton, Oregon; grandson, Ian Nilsen and wife Hart and their daughter Nova of Wasilla; granddaughter, Jaime Nilsen Heatherly and husband Michael and two great grandchildren, Imogen and her brother Grayson. The Heatherly's are a Military family currently stationed at Beale, AFB, California.