ROBERT AARON MAHAR

Robert Aaron Mahar, 69, a 32-year Alaska resident, died Sept. 5, 2004, of heart failure, at Valley Hospital in Palmer.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m., Sept. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla, on Bogard Road.

Mr. Mahar was born April 7, 1935, in Boston, Mass., to Earl B. Mahar and Marion W. Mahar.

He married Barbara Thompson in 1956 and had three children. The couple divorced in 1985. Mr. Mahar married Suzanne Bach in 1988.

Mr. Mahar is a former U.S. Marine (1952-1955) who served in the Korean Conflict.

He majored in architectural design at the University of Illinois and attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin.

After 15 years of government work in Illinois, Maine and California, he was chief architect/engineer at Elmendorf Air Force Base. From 1988 he was partner in Art Biz Studio, Anchorage, and, since 2002, art instructor at Mat-Su College. His bronze sculpture was represented nationally by Wild Wings Galleries.

Mr. Mahar was a scoutmaster, a Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of the Barbershop, Alaska Artists Guild, National Sculpture Society and American Classical Realism Society. He passed his love of art and the outdoors to his children and grandchildren.

His family and friends wrote: "Bob lived his life, one day at a time, with integrity and generosity. He was sure the world would do well with his suggestions, and he never hesitated to give his opinion. His laugh was infectious and his artistic abilities were extraordinary. Bob was a passionate soul. He accepted 'the gifts' and gave God the credit each day."

Mr. Mahar is survived by his wife, Suzanne Bach of Wasilla; son, Jeffrey Mahar of Anchorage; daughter, Cindy Mendenhall of Colorado and Kevin Mahar of Washington; grandchildren, Erin, Scott, Rebecca, Anthony, Jonathon, Jade, Matt, Sean, and Holly; sister, Mary Frances Osborne of Massachusetts; nieces, Joanne Lasdasky of Wisconsin, Belinda Jewel of South Carolina, and Gordon Mahar Jr. of Alaska and Toby and Rob Osborne of Washington.

He is preceded in death by brothers, Gordon Mahar of South Carolina and John Mahar of Washington.

Donations may be made to Shriners Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL, 33607 and Boy Scouts of America, 3117 Patterson St., Anchorage, AK 99504.

Arrangements were handled by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.