Robert Wayne Coleman

Longtime Alaska resident Robert “Bob” Wayne Coleman, 85, passed away peacefully Sept. 15 with his family at his side. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Sparrows Song Cemetery on the family homestead in Willow. Bob was born Jan. 7, 1924 to Robert and Cora and grew up on the family farm in Bates County, Mich. He was the star track miler at Adrian High School and served his country from 1942-47 in WWII.

Bob married Elizabeth (his “Bunny”) in Walla, Walla, Wash., in 1955 and had three children before driving the Alcan to Alaska in 1960 where they homesteaded in the Willow area before the Parks Highway was built. Bob built the family home by hand, cutting and preparing the logs and living off the land, with no electricity or plumbing. Bob worked at Northern Commercial (now Nordstrom) and was downtown during the 1964 earthquake, in which he helped in rescue efforts and rebuilding. Bob traveled up on weekends after work to spend time with his family. After retiring, Bob moved permanently to the Willow area and built another home, wiring both it and the original home for electricity and putting in plumbing himself.

Bob enjoyed spending time with family and went on numerous hunting, fishing and camping trips. He liked to go sheep hunting with those children old enough to climb. He enjoyed working around the house, building things, rebuilding cars and in general, just keeping busy. Always quick with a joke, Bob had a Johnny Carson-like personality and regaled the family with stories of his childhood antics.

Mr. Coleman was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Cora; siblings John and Irma; sons Edward and Gregrey and granddaughter Christine.

He is survived by his siblings Bill (Leah) and Ruby (Dan), wife Elizabeth, children Robert (Patti), Shereen (Jim), Laureen, Tareen (Greg), Joireen (Bill), Kathereen, Mareen, Janeen (Jason), Jerry “Bob” (Sheila), Carol (Norm) and Clyde, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of friends who will miss him.

Arrangements were by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel in Wasilla.