Robert (Bob) Francis Ebenal

Robert (Bob) Francis Ebenal, 82, died Jan. 12, 2013.

He was born April 2, 1930, to Roy and Wlihelmina Ebenal in Missoula, Mont. He was the oldest of 13 children. He served in the Korean War, was the U.S.Postmaster of Woodburn, Ore., and spent most of his life work building homes in the Northwest and Alaska.

He spent many years in Tanana, running a fish camp on the Yukon River and a café beginning in 1973. There he was known as the “fruit man” because he would have fruit shipped out to the village and shared with the local Natives. He spent later years gold mining in Petersville, where he served as president of Blue Ribbon Inc.

He enjoyed cooking, reading, dancing, fishing, photography and gardening. He had a love for the outdoors and nature. His passion in life was being a father to his eight children.

Surviving are his wife, Grace Ebenal; children, Valerie and Tom Manfred of Spokane Wash., Robert and Charina Ebenal of Spokane, Wash., Dean and Marquese Allen of Fairbanks, David and Melissa Cline of Wasilla, Michael and Emilie Cullison of Wasilla, Angelo Ebenal of Los Angeles, Calif., and Catherine Ebenal of Wasilla; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death was his daughter, Denise Zumbro.

A funeral service is at 10 a.m., Jan. 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. A reception is to follow in the social hall.

A donation account has been set up at Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union to help the family with funeral costs, Account No. 69287CU.