Elroy Bohlin, of Hansville, died peacefully on July 17 while listening to the waves at the shore of his Hansville home. He was 90.

An avid conservationist and outdoorsman, he devoted his life to the country’s legacy of National Parks and community service.

Born on Dec. 14, 1917, Elroy grew up in Ballard and traveled with his family each summer to Scandia, Wash., 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 age 16.

He enlisted and served in World War II 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 Bachelor of Science 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, Wash., 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 also supervisor of Mammoth Hot Spring, Yellowstone, Big Hole National Monument, and Gila Cliff Dwellings, N.M.

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 lifelong interest, and he performed as a member of the Windjammers Musical Group, as an accordionist and vocalist. 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 wife, Marcelline, and two daughters, Janice Ceridwen of Seattle and Debbi Avery of Greenwater, Wash.

Through his words and example he encouraged everyone he met to make the most of each and every day.

A gathering in honor his life will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Hansville Community Center at Buck Lake.

An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.