Robert Charles Tauriainen

1941 - 2015

Robert Charles Tauriainen went to be with his Heavenly Father on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 at 3 a.m. at Central Peninsula Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
Rob was born in Detroit, Michigan on Nov. 10, 1941. He graduated from Clarenceville High School in Livonia, Michigan with the class of 1960. Following high school he moved to the San Fernando Valley in California to attend college. He enlisted in the Navy in 1966 and proudly served his country as a flight deck crewman on several aircraft carriers during the Vietnam conflict.
After serving in the Navy he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Cal State Northridge. He moved to Nikiski in 1979 to live closer to his brothers Raymond and Richard and his Uncle Art and Aunt Mim Tauriainen and family who homesteaded in Nikiski in 1959. He was a proud Navy seaman who channeled his love of the sea into being one of the best deckhands in the Cook Inlet Drift fleet. He fished with both of his brothers, first with Rich on the majestic Fairdays and later on the Brigid with Ray.
Rob enjoyed spending the winter months in Hawaii with his Aunt Mim. Rob spent several years getting to know and making friends with his church family in Nikiski as well as Hawaii. He loved Jesus with all his heart and everyone that knew him knew that he considered himself blessed, and he blessed those around him with his infectious smile and positive attitude. He loved his family dearly and was grateful up until the end for the care provided by his two brothers and his nephew Jason during his fight with cancer.
He was a passionate Detroit Lions fan and the only thing he loved to read more than Lindy's Preseason Football Guide was his Bible and "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Frances Tauriainen.
He is survived by: brother Ray and Sue Tauriainen, niece Jackie and Kevin Arnett and their children Lily, Christopher, Grace, Abigail, and Ellen, nephew Jason and Kaci Tauriainen and their children Hannah, Samuel, Hallie, Ashlee, Emilee, Jaycee, Harrison, and Finnlee, and niece Carin Rose Tauriainen; also by his brother Richard, sister-in-law Deidre and nephew Jake and Tara Tauriainen, and their baby Judah and nephew Jesse Tauriainen; also his sister Sally and her children niece Camie and Patrick Goodes and their children; niece Jillian and Derek and their children; also his sister Shirley her son Jamie and Cindy. He is also survived by his Favorite Aunt Mim and her children, cousin Mike and Kay Tauriainen and their daughters Julie, Wendy, and Lyndi, cousin Carol and Randy Ernst and their children Beth and Ellie, cousin Carl Tauriainen and his children Peter, Amy, and Seth, and cousin Glenn and Lindy Tauriainen and children.
A Memorial Service will be held at North Kenai Chapel in Nikiski on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.