ROBERT M. PIATT SR.

Longtime Alaskan resident Robert M. Piatt Sr. died of a sudden, unexpected heart attack on Jan. 28, 2005, at Palmer Airport.

Services were held at the Palmer Seventh-day Adventist Church on Thursday, Feb. 3.

Mr. Piatt was born in Portage, Ind., on June 21, 1927. Prior to arriving in Alaska on July 9, 1949 with Ginny, his bride of one year, Mr. Piatt served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged. He retired from his commercial fishing business in Bristol Bay.

His family wrote, "Bob fulfilled his life-long dream of sailing. His 46-foot dream boat was built in France and he sailed it across the Atlantic to Antigua, where he was met by family members. While sailing, Bob and Ginny discovered Crooked Island, loved it, and continued to enjoy their time there. He accepted the Lord 10 years ago; he had a quiet faith and enjoyed the Bahamian Seventh Day Adventist Church and his many friends there.

"Bob genuinely enjoyed life to the fullest, spending much of his time with family and friends and working on and flying airplanes. Bob's love of flying was passed on to his children, grandchildren and numerous friends, many of whom he taught to fly. He was proud to have 12 pilots in the family, and was thrilled to take his oldest great-grandchild for his first flight. His love of flying has been passed to yet another generation. Words cannot express how deeply he was loved by his family, and he will sorely be missed. "

Mr. Piatt is survived by his loving wife, Ginny; son, Bobby, and daughter-in-law, Pam; daughter, Debbie Rolston, and son-in-law, Tom; son, Mike, and daughter-in-law, Denise, and daughter, Sandy McMahan, and son-in-law, Chuck. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Michael and wife, Brandi; Jenny, Scott, Christopher, Jamye and husband, Chance; Johnny, Brittany and husband, Micah; Matt, Bryan, Jessica, Amanda and Mikey and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Jordan, Taylor and Dayton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maynard and Edith Piatt.