Robert Gosta Askerlund's Obituary
Robert Gosta Askerlund of Salt Lake City, Utah passed away on August 9, 2023,
at the age of 91. He died peacefully at the George E. Wahlen Veterans’ Home in Ogden, surrounded by his loved ones.
A graveside service will be held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 11:00 AM.
Robert was born January 9th, 1932 to Gosta Helmer and Anna Charlotte Askerlund. He spent many of his early years in Salt Lake City. When his father passed away in 1944, he went to live with family friends George and Erma Roseman in Highland, UT. He worked on the Roseman’s farm throughout his high school years, before joining the U.S. Navy in 1950. He proudly served during the Korean War, spending time in Honolulu, HI and Kodiak, AK. He married Patricia Lyle Parker in 1954. In 1955 they started a family in the Rose Park neighborhood where Patricia grew up, and lived there together for over 30 years. Robert worked at Hill Air Force Base until retirement in 1983. Robert was a proud member of the Murray Elk’s Lodge #2344, and in 1981, he held the position of Grand Exalted Ruler. After his retirement, he worked for The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, as a volunteer, traveling all over the state. Robert was certified as a volunteer instructor in the Utah Hunter’s Education program in 1973, where he was awarded the title of “Instructor of the Year” in 1989, and again in 2002. He began working for Weber County under the official title of “River Keeper” in 1995, where he supervised river clean-ups and public education. Robert was an avid outdoorsman. He hunted & fished nearly every area in the State of Utah, and was always willing to share his extensive knowledge of Utah’s great outdoors. One of the first lessons he taught his children was “always leave a campsite, better than you found it.”
Robert is preceded in death by his wife Patricia, son in law, Ronald Buzzard, sister Virginia Schultz. Survived by his sister, Vera Schrader, brother, Gary Askerlund, son Robert L. and Dee Ann Askerlund, daughter Nancy Askerlund, his grandchildren Robert N. Askerlund, Reece Serr, Marci and Jeff Hall, Michael Gosta Askerlund, great grandchildren Lincoln, Emma, and Olivia Hall, Askerlund cousins, and special long-time friends, Phil Douglass & Ine Takanaka.
Robert’s legacy as a hard-working member of many communities will be remembered by his close friends and family, for years to come. We join in reverence and love as Robert is rejoined with his wife in the hereafter.
The Askerlund Family would like to thank the staff at the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veteran’s Home and Bristol Hospice for the kind and compassionate care that they provided to Robert.
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