Robert J. Wilks Sr.

Jun 10, 1927 -

Dec 17, 2023

Longtime Alaska resident Robert "Bob" Wilks Sr., 96, beloved husband and father of four children passed away at home following a major stroke that claimed his life on Dec. 17, 2023. Bob was born in Antelope Gulch, Mont., on June 10, 1927, the first son in a family of five to Edward and Maryann Wilks.

From an incredibly early age and throughout his life Bob was a kind and compassionate soul, even when life's challenges seemed overwhelming, like the passing of his father at age 8 and the passing of his mother at age 21, resulting in Bob having to raise his younger brother and sister. Before his mother passed away Bob, at age 17, asked his mother to sign papers allowing him to join the Navy during World War II and the Navy stationed him in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After his term of military service Bob returned to Anaconda, Mont., where he was employed by the Butte/Anaconda Railroad and regularly walked to work. On one of those days a young woman drove by and asked if he wanted a ride to work. Bob, of course, said yes and that woman later became his wife to this day, a period lasting 74 years of marriage. Bob's wife later confessed that picking him up was motivated by a bet she made with her girlfriend that she could get his undivided attention if she offered him a ride to work and she was right. After they got married, Bob and his wife Dolores had four children of their own and raised his younger sister and brother. It was not long after that that a labor strike broke out at the Butte/Anaconda Railroad and Bob faced the responsibility for caring for a new wife and six children and a mortgage on a recently purchased home. This event by itself presented Bob with yet another overwhelming challenge and, as the saying goes with all great challenges comes great opportunities. That opportunity came in the form of a job working for his older sister who owned the Polaris Bar in Fairbanks, Alaska. Bob felt the best way to take on this challenge was to move initially by himself to Fairbanks, establish roots and then bring his family up to Fairbanks. Temporarily leaving his wife and children behind in Montana was a big sacrifice for Bob because he deeply loved his wife and children but deep down, he seemed to instinctively know that Alaska would be kind to him and a great place to raise a family. He was right!

Bob is preceded in death by his son, Robert J. Wilks Jr.; and survived in death by his wife, Dolores; son, David with wife Colette; son, Edward with wife Deb; son, Bill with husband Antonio; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bob will be buried with military honors at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, on Jan. 25, 2024, at 10:45 a.m. A celebration of Bob's life will also be announced at a later date.