Robert Lee Silvernail

1935 - 2016

Robert Lee Silvernail Sr. passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Hemet, Calif., with his family at his side on Sept. 7, 2016. He was 81. Everyone who knew him knew that he preferred to be called Bob. Bob was born in Casscity, Mich., in 1935, and attended Caro High School. He won the Wood Shop Award during his junior and senior years there, a distinction that he would perfect later in his life. He married Mary Jo Aikin. After graduation, Bob went to work at Michigan State Hospital near Caro and began raising a family of 7 children. In 1960, he moved his family to Fairgrove, Mich., where the children attended Akron-Fairgrove schools. During the years that Bob and family lived in Fairgrove, he pursued several of his keenest interests part time. He put his wood shop skills to use and made furniture, cabinets and many other quality wood projects. He was well known in the area as a skilled gun smith and gun stock carver. Bob was a skilled model builder and built models to scale. He put together several model train lay outs: some took entire rooms. He enjoyed model airplane building as well. Bob eventually moved to Alaska in 1975, fulfilling a dream shared with his wife, Mary Jo. In Alaska, Bob worked for Hickle Construction Co. and Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, from which he retired. Throughout his life, Bob would not hesitate to help someone, friend or not, who was in need. He enjoyed watching all the professional Detroit sport teams and the University of Michigan teams compete. Bob enjoyed guns, model train collecting and all types of wood working. He is survived by his best friend, Mary Jo; daughters, Kim, Robin of California, Jola and Dawn of Alaska; sons, Reginald, Michael of Alaska, and Robert Jr. of Florida; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bob will be greatly missed!