Robert Sliter Obituary

Longtime Alaska resident Robert "Bob" Sliter passed away May 18, 2022 at the Juneau Pioneer's Home, with his wife by his side.

Bob was born in St. John, North Dakota, on March 13,1934, to Gordon and Francis Sliter. Soon after, the family moved to Freeport, Minnesota where Bob spent most of his early years. He attended high school in Melrose and excelled in many sports and was even recruited to play minor league baseball after high school but chose to find adventure instead. He enjoyed many escapades with his friends from the Freeport and Melrose areas, was a member of the "Rough Riders", and spent many a day at the Herzog family farm. He and his wife made many trips back to the "farm" to see old friends.

He joined the Marines in 1952. He said that he must have looked like a "Marine" because to his disappointment he was sent to the Headquarters Battalion in Washington, D.C. instead of to the fight in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1955 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. He enjoyed telling his grandsons about his adventures in the Marines and had them marching in the living room and singing the Marine Corps anthem at a very young age.

After the Marines, he opened up a book of colleges and saw Alaska. Being a dream of his to come to Alaska after reading Jack London, UAF was a good fit. Others in Minnesota were unsure of this adventure; his father even gave him a bag of marbles so if anyone asked him if he lost his marbles, he could say no. Bob did well at UAF and made many lifelong friends, played Varsity basketball, and played many a hand of poker to come up with spare money. During the summer he worked as a wild rice harvester in Minnesota and a forest firefighter in Alaska. He never encountered Smokey Bear but he did get drug out of his tent in a sleeping bag by a bear. He graduated with B. A. in Business Administration but realizing he didn't want to spend his life in an office he also graduated with a B.A in Elementary Education.

Coming to Juneau with two suitcases, an old Ford, and a husky dog, Bob started his teaching career in 1961 at Mt. Jumbo teaching six grade. He also taught in Kodiak, Bethel, and St. Ann's School where he was called Sister Mary Bobby by his friends.

During his first semester teaching at Mt. Jumbo, he met Stuart Johnson a fellow teacher. He said he never stood a chance as their rooms were adjacent to each other and all their recesses were together. They were married at Christmas break on December 23 , 1 961 . Bob and Stuart spent 60r years together as Bob said in "utter bliss". They raised three children together. They had many good times together travelling to the farm, New Zealand, Australia, and Key West. They drove across country a few times and once so Bob could fish on a lobster boat.

In 1962, Bob started his fishing career on Kodiak Island set netting in Larson Bay. Once Stuart joined him after the birth of their first child, they set netted in Olga Bay and Deadman's Bay. After the 1964 earthquake, Bob and Stuart decided to leave Kodiak as their permanent home but returned to fish set net sites during the summer until 1969 when he made the transition to gill netting off the F/V Stjil be named after his three favorite girls. He branched out into Dungeness crabbing, King crabbing, and longlining both halibut and black cod over the years. He said his favorite years fishing were the years his children were his deckhands. He was always proud as hell to hear that the tall skinny guy with white hair, all those kids, and the cat and the dog were the highliners of the opening. His gillnetting career expanded to not only SE but also Area M which was in the False Pass and Port Moller areas. Since he needed the boat for crabbing and longlining, he crossed the gulf many times although his wife wisely stayed home for that adventure although met him and the kids at the half way point, Kodiak Island. His career spanned three separate boats and he finally retired from fishing in his early 80's. His son adopted the fisherman's life and continues to fish.

During his life, Bob was an avid hunter. He went on many a deer hunt with his boat and good friends where they most often limited out but were fleeced in cribbage or poker by Bob. He was a bear guide until the regulations changed and he couldn't pass the guide test as he was color blind. Citing many of his hunting adventures, Bob published his stories in a hunting magazine.

Bob enjoyed debating politics with his mother-in-law Roberta Johnson, playing many a card game, playing basketball in his younger years during Gold Medal, playing horse shoes in his back yard, walking 2nd Street while visiting with his neighbors enjoyed swimming and being a member of the Sauna Club at ABP, reading Westerns, listening to country music, and drinking Vitamin R. He was happiest on his boat or sitting in his living room with the best view in the world.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his daughter Jyll.

Bob is survived by his wife Stuart of Douglas, daughter Beth and Greg Weldon? son Rob and Jill Sliter, and his two grandsons Cody (Taylor) Weldon of Camp Pendleton, CA and Tyler Weldon of Juneau, his sister Mary Ellen (Gary) Teter, nephews David Costanza, Todd Costanza, Kevin Costanza, and Brian Costanza, brother-in-law Bob Johnson, and many grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins.

Bob will be remembered for his humor, his black panther tattoo, his work ethic, his legendary strength, his sense of adventure, and his story telling. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and former students. A scholarship in his name was established by one of his former students at UAS for student teachers.

The family would especially like to thank Dr. Welling from Valley Medical Care for his wonderful care and rapport with Bob and the nurses and CNAs at the Pioneer's Home for their devotion to him.

The family can be reached at PO 8ox240543 Douglas, AK 99824.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Community Services, 1803 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 99801.

At Bob's request, no mass will be held; however, a celebration of life will take place on Sunday, July 17tr, from 4-6 pm at the Juneau Yacht Club.