Robert Joseph Deliman Sr.

Robert Joseph Deliman, Sr. passed away at home on January 29, 2026, at age 88, after a battle with esophageal cancer.

He was born in Hazleton, PA, on January 20, 1938 to George and Elizabeth (Bednar) Deliman. He graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic School in 1952 and Hazleton Senior High School in June 1955.

On March 21, 1956 he entered the U.S. Air Force and served for 20 years, retiring on April 1, 1976. During his service, he had overseas assignments in Okinawa, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, New Guinea, New Zealand and Antarctica. His stateside assignments included Texas, Mississippi, California, Michigan, Oklahoma, Illinois, Virginia and Alaska.

In June 1957, while stationed in Okinawa, he met the love of his life, Chieko Uezato. On January 11, 1959, they were married and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on January 11, 2025.

While on assignment to Elemendorf AFB Alaska in 1969, they fell in love with the beauty of the mountains and wildlife. After retiring from the Air Force, they returned to Alaska to raise their family. He worked at Alaska Sales and Service, then civil service at Ft. Richardson's roads and ground shop, from which he retired.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter whose other hobbies included woodworking, gold panning, watching old westerns (Audie Murphy was a favorite), listening to classic country and Okinawan music and watching Taiko drummers.

He had a fun, mischievous side and as a child, he collected deer droppings, which he left in his pockets for his mom to find while doing laundry. As he got older, he enjoyed racing his scooter against John on the riding lawn mower.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife Chieko Deliman of Wasilla, AK, his parents George and Elizabeth Deliman of Hazleton, PA, brother and sister-in-law Joseph and Sandra Deliman of Drums, PA, brother George Deliman of Pittsburgh, PA, sister and brother-in-law Delores and Mike Timcho of Hazleton, PA, son Robert J. Deliman, Jr. of Anchorage, AK and nephew Jerry Timcho of Hazleton, PA.

He is survived by his daughter Mary (John) Cuzzocreo of Wasilla, AK, son Carl (Debbie Jo) Deliman of Middletown, DE, son Stephen Deliman of Anchorage, AK, daughter Deborah (John) Hanson of Wasilla, AK and daughter Carol (John) Ayers, also of Wasilla, AK.

He is survived by 10 grandchildren, Jennifer Cuzzocreo of Orange, CT, John Cuzzocreo III of Anchorage, AK, Kathleen (Eli) Cuzzocreo-Colon of Austin, TX, Lauren Deliman of Middletown, DE, Christopher (Stephanie) Deliman of Elkton, MD, Alexander Deliman of New Castle, DE, Juliana Deliman of Middletown, DE, Victoria Deliman of Elkton, MD, Katrina Deliman and Lillianne Deliman both of Middletown, DE.

He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Landon Tanner of Middletown DE, Christopher Jr. (CJ) and Jackson Robert Deliman of Elkton, MD, Dominic and Sophia Cuzzocreo-Colon of Austin, TX and Hunter Cuzzocreo of Wasilla, AK.

Also surviving is his favorite cousin, Patricia Gundy of Hazle Township, PA along with many nieces and nephews, David Deliman, Thomas Deliman, Mark Deliman, Timothy Deliman and Kimberly Deliman, all of Drums, PA, Mark Timcho and Michele (Timcho) Houser of Hazleton, PA, Michael Deliman of Pittsburgh, PA, Richard (Lynne) Deliman of McKees Rocks, PA, Michele (Mark) Azzarello of Pittsburgh, PA, Kathryn Deliman of Pittsburgh, PA and sister-in-law Eileen Deliman, also of Pittsburgh, PA.

While we are all heartbroken from the losses so close together, we're comforted by the knowledge that they're reunited in Heaven.

A small, private funeral service with family and close friends will be at Legacy Funeral Home Wasilla Heritage Chapel on Check Street in Wasilla, AK on Sunday, February 15th, 2026 at 2:00pm.

Burial will be in the spring at Angelus Memorial Park on Klatt Road in Anchorage, AK.