Bob Gillam, one of Alaska's wealthiest people, and opponent of the Pebble Mine is laid to rest

The funeral service for Bob Gillam was Sunday afternoon in Anchorage. Gillam, a father of five, was one of Alaska's richest residents.

He was 72 when he died after having a stroke.

He was the founder of an investment management firm, McKinley Capital Management, but Gillam was perhaps best known for his fight to stop the creation of a gold and copper mine in Bristol Bay.

Gillam had a home in Anchorage and one near Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, which is in the same area of thriving commercial and subsistence fishing. He contributed millions of dollars toward efforts to stop the mine.

"He was a big believer that if you really truly believed in something you fight for it ferociously and you do what it takes and you gotta come in early and you gotta stay late," Bob's son, Rob Gillam, said.

Besides his family, Rob Gillam said his father had two loves: fishing and stocks.

Rob Gillam says when his father would catch a fish he would yell out "yahoo!"

Gillam was born in the state before statehood and was a graduate of West High graduate in Anchorage in 1964.

"I hope that his legacy will be about living passionately," Rob Gillam said. "I hope that his legacy will be about working hard."

Rob Gillam worked beside his father for almost 25 years. He eventually became the Chief Investment Officer and President.

"He taught me to win, he taught me to lose graciously, which we did on some occasion, and he taught me to lead by example not by command," Rob Gillam said. "And those were some pretty good lessons."