Robert Denkewalter

Longtime Anchorage resident Robert George Denkewalter, 90, died peacefully in his sleep Nov. 19, 2008, at Providence Horizon House.
A funeral Mass will be at 2:30 p.m. today, with a viewing from 1:30-2:15 p.m., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Friends are invited to gather at the family home after the service.
Robert was born March 3, 1918, in Chicago, the youngest of three children. He graduated from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1939. After receiving his doctorate degree from the University of Chicago in 1943, he and his wife Rosemary moved to New Jersey, where he worked as a research chemist for Merck & Co. In 1968, he led a team of scientists in creating the first synthetic amino acid. He subsequently worked as vice president at Allied Chemical, retiring in 1981 to move to Alaska.
He was an avid outdoorsman, climbing and trekking in Europe, Nepal, North America and Africa. With his son, Paul, he was a member of the 93rd party to summit Mt. McKinley. He was a private pilot, skier and horseman. He traveled extensively around the world with his wife.
He taught part time at the University of Alaska, was involved with Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and was active in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Rosemary; and his granddaughter, Pia.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen Denkewalter and Mike Rayburn of Vancouver, British Columbia; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Geraldine Denkewalter of Talkeetna; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Greg Ryberg of South Carolina; son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Mary Kaye Denkewalter of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Gerry Vadnais of California; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.