Robert A. Nilsen

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 in April 2023 at a date to be announced. There will be a gathering of family and friends in the church hall after the Mass. Bob will be cremated and his remains 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 Commandant 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 State of Alaska, for four years. He also held many offices in the third Degree including two years 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 November 22, 2008. He is survived by the love of his life Joan, and together enjoyed 66 years of marriage. Bob also leaves two living children, Dennis W. Nilsen and wife Barbara of Soldotna, Tina Nilsen Bosela and husband Richard 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 fiancé Hart of Wasilla, granddaughter Jaime Nilsen Heatherly, husband Michael and two great grandchildren Imogen and her brother Grayson, The Heatherly’s are a Military family currently stationed at Whiteman AFB in California.