Obit: Andersen, Robert A. (1926 - 2017)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Andersen, Finckler, Hanson, Riddick, St. John, Stelloh, Westrich, Zimmer

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 12/30/2017

Andersen, Robert A. (31 DEC 1926 - 28 DEC 2017)

Robert A. Andersen, age 90, of Colby, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Marshfield.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at First United Church of Christ in Colby. Pastor Teri Hanson will officiate. Interment will follow at Colby Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Colby VFW Post #2227. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the church.

Bob was born on December 31, 1926, the son of Alfred and Cecelia (St. John) in Bruce, WI the third of six children. He helped on the family farm until enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1945 and serving in Germany in the motor pool. Bob met Joyce Finckler through a friend on a blind date while she was in nursing school in Eau Claire. They were married in September of 1950 and they had six children: Elaine, Bob, Sally, Mark, Paul and Chris. They were married at the time of Joyce's death for 64 years.

As a young man, Bob worked at Massy Harrison in Racine, WI. Later he moved to a small 40 acre farm. At the same time he had a field tiling business. In 1972, wanting to farm full time, they moved to La Crosse, farming there until 1978 and moving to Colby and farmed with Elaine and Wayne. After retiring from farming, he worked several years for Harmony CO-OP.

Bob as a young man loved to fly and learned to do so at a small airport nearby. He loved to hunt during deer season. He loved growing things and always had a garden. Bob and Joyce loved doing things with their family. They loved to travel and one of their favorite things was to take Sunday drives. On September 16, 2017, Bob was honored to be part of the Honor Flight and accompanied by his son, Bob.

Bob is survived by his five children: Elaine (Wayne) Westrich of Unity, Robert M. (Marcie) Andersen of Helena, MT, Sally (Ramon) Stelloh of West Salem, WI, Mark (Sandy) Andersen of Stratford, and Paul (Cherie) Andersen of Helena, MT, 12 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He is further survived by a brother, Larry (Mary Anne) Andersen of Racine and two sisters: Lillian Zimmer of Racine and Eunice Riddick of CO; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was loved by many.

He was preceded in death by her parents; his wife, Joyce; his son; Chris Andersen, two brothers, James and Walter Andersen.