Robert (Bob) Calvin Turtainen

March 22, 1951 – June 13, 2018

Robert (Bob) Calvin Turtainen died Wednesday, June 13, 2018

He passed away after a brief but spectacular illness, the family wrote.

Bob was the second child of Charlotte and Armas Turtianen, born on March 22, 1951 in Kirkland, Washington.

He met Mari in Washington and invited her and the children to Montana where he was a plumber on the High Line and directional faller for Champion.

Bob was brilliant at taking his new suburbanite family and teaching them the ways of the Big Sky Country: fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing, and skiing in the winters.

He was involved in EMS and helped relocate families to safe havens due to domestic violence. He worked well with the local sheriff and aAmbulance crew.

In 1991 he went back to his family’s adventurous roots and returned to Alaska. His great-grandfather, George C. Hazelet was the founding father of both Valdez and Cordova. Valdez is now located where their hayfield used to be. The hospital is located on Hazelet and Galena Streets. The first oil well in Alaska was located just outside Cordova and owned by George. The family home, the first all-steam heated home designed by George is still standing in Cordova.

Bob and Mari first arrived in Homer, but then found their way to Anchor Point, where they built their dream home in the woods next to a lake. Bob raised his own dog team of nine that lasted just short of 18 years. He stayed active in the community by serving as an ambulance driver while Mari treated patients in the back. He also enjoyed listening to music, playing the harmonica and helping others with their own musical endeavors.

Bob is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mari; his two children, Aaron and Danielle; his three siblings, Kay Doberfuhl, Tom Turtainen and Tim Turtainen; his four nieces and two nephews; four grandchildren; and numerous friends that extend all over the great Northwest. He lived his life to the fullest and as best as he could right to the end.

A memorial will be announced at a later date as time is needed to gather friends and family from Montana and Washington.