Elroy W. Bohlin

90, died peacefully July 17th while listening to the waves at the shore of his Hansville, WA home. An avid conservationist and outdoorsman, he devoted his life to our country's legacy of National Parks and community service. Born December 14, 1917 Elroy grew up in Ballard, and traveled with his family each summer to Scandia, WA to make camp there. As a young man he and his Ballard buddies hitched rides on trains out of Seattle to hike and climb among the high peaks of the Cascade Mountains. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at the age of 16. Elroy enlisted and served in WWII as a B-24 pilot assigned to the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron. He flew over 40 unescorted reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines in the South Pacific, including a flight over the Japanese mainland.After the war, Elroy graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Forestry. He embarked on a 30 year career with the National Park service, where he developed his passion for conservation and the preservation of our national parks. All who encountered Elroy came away with a new understanding and appreciation for the natural world. He was the first Ranger assigned to Kalaloch, WA after the government acquired the oceanfront land for Olympic National Park. He served as Park Ranger at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (Hilo), and Chief Ranger at Mt McKinley National Park (Denali). He was Supervisor of Mammoth Hot Spring, Yellowstone, Big Hole National Monument, and Gila Cliff Dwellings, New Mexico. On retirement, Elroy returned to the Pacific Northwest and volunteered his time to the Hansville community, including helping to establish the Orchard Beach Water District. Music was a life-long interest, and he performed as a member of the Windjammers Musical Group (accordion and vocals). He loved to play golf with his friends almost as much as he loved to work in his garden. During this time he donated land at Lofall to the Kitsap Land Trust for a wetlands nature preserve. He is survived by his loving wife Marcelline and two daughters Janice Ceridwen, Seattle and Debbi Avery, Greenwater. Words cannot express the special person that was Elroy. He will be missed by all who knew him for the gleam in his eye, humor and positive attitude. Through his words and example he encouraged everyone he met to make the most of each and every day. A gathering in honor of Elroy's life will be held at the Hansville Community Center at Buck Lake on August 23rd at 2:00pm.