Robert L. Tucker

Sutton resident Robert L. Tucker, 94, passed away Dec. 21 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A service will be held on Saturday at Valley Baptist Tabernacle at 3 p.m. A public visitation will be held at 2 p.m., and a reception at UBT will follow after the service.

Pallbearers will be Paul Knecht, Joseph Bates, Samuel Tucker, David Tucker, Michael Tucker and James Tucker.

Robert was born on Aug. 8, 1915 in OroFino, Idaho. He received his bachelors degree in geology at the University of Idaho in Moscow. Mr. Tucker was then affiliated with the Army Corps of Engineers in WWII.

Mr. Tucker then moved to Alaska in 1939 and lived in Eska until 1957, then Sutton in 2009. Robert came to Alaska to work in the gold mines, but he settled in the coal mines near Sutton during WWII until Jonesville coal mines closed in 1967. Robert retired from the coal company in 1967. After retirement, Robert free lanced doing land surveying.

Robert belonged to the Valley Baptist Tabernacle deacon and Sunday School teacher for 35 years. For community service Robert was on the Mat-Su Borough Platting Board; Valley Hospital Association Board of Directors; and MEA Board of Directors.

His hobbies were writing for many magazines like Field and Stream, MEA Ruralite, and Copper Valley Ruralite. He wrote books, and his pictures were published. He loved church work, hunting, fishing, trapping, berry picking, gardening and photography.

His family writes, “Dad’s real love was Alaska, his family and the many friends he made in his 70 years here. His grandchildren adore him; he was an amazing grandfather. Knowing Jesus as his savior was a daily reality in his personal life. He read the Bible thoroughly and shared his faith in Christ with others.”

Robert was survived by his current wife in later years Helen Harness Tucker; his daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Keith Springer; son and daughter-in-law Stanley and Karen Tucker; son and daughter-in-law Vaughn and Diana Tucker; son and daughter-in-law Paul and Debby Tucker; 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson; his brother Richard Tucker and sister Rita Sparks.

Mr. Tucker was preceded in death by his wife Pearl who died during WWII, his wife of 50 years Elizabeth; brothers Denton and Sandy Tucker.