Robert Waldorf

Robert "Bob" Vernon Waldorf was born on April 28th, 1945 to Joseph and Bernice Waldorf in Perham, MN. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the age of 79 on May 14th, 2024 after a battle with myelofibrosis.

Bob grew up on the family farm and worked at his father's gas station. He graduated from Perham High School in 1963 and enlisted in the Air Force September 1965 to January 1969. Bob met his wife, Pat, at a dance, and even though it took two proposals, they were married in May 1971. Bob and Pat spent years in North and South Dakota where they completed their family. During this time they owned and operated the Cookie Nook and Karamel Korn stores. Bob and Pat moved to Brainerd MN to be closer to family. In Brainerd, Bob and Pat also owned and operated food court stores in the mall where the older kids enjoyed their first jobs. After long days of business ownership, Bob was "On the Road Again'' as a truck driver. During his time on the road, he loved bringing home the Texas barbeque to share with his family. Later, Bob and Pat moved next door to the beloved family cabin on Marion Lake and eventually to a hobby farm in Dent. Bob loved growing vegetables in the garden and caring for his chickens in the "Taj Mahal'' chicken coop. In his final years Bob enjoyed snow birding in Texas and owning a trailer in Battle Lake, close to Marion Lake.

Bob's many hobbies included playing baseball, which carried over to a love of watching his grandkids play ball too. Bob spent many hours snowmobiling down Tee Lake Hills with his wife and deer hunting with family and friends. He was an avid fisherman, enjoying many trips to Canada for walleye fishing; he was proud to share this tradition and love of fishing with his family. Bob also passed on a favorite pastime of playing cards with his kids and grandkids. Countless hours were spent playing pinochle where family and friends were heckled for "wearing the spots off cards'' and "seeing sicker dogs than that get well." During many card games and around the campfire at Marion Lake, Bob would have a song he just needed to play or a music video you needed to watch. He enjoyed countless hours of Willie Nelson and other classic country music. In fact, Bob even came up with a few lyrics of his own when "To All the Girls I Loved Before" was replaced with "To All the Cows I've Milked Before." Most of all, Bob passed on a deep love of time at Marion Lake that started in his youth. As an adult, he could be found with a cold Miller High Life, watching the grandkids enjoy the beautiful sandy beach, the horseshoe pits, and fishing on the Crappie Hole.

Bob has imparted the value of being fun-loving yet hard-working. To know Bob was to know how deeply he truly loved.

Bob is survived by his wife Patricia Waldorf; daughter Kristin (Brian) Hegrenes with grandchildren Adam, Mary, and Sarah; son Kristopher (Amy) Waldorf with grandchildren Madeline, Roman and Graham; daughter Karla (Tim) Rick with grandchildren Taylor, Elliot, and Lincoln; sister Mary Anderson and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and siblings Jim Waldorf, Kenneth Waldorf, Geraldine Huwe, JoAnne Lillis and Russell Waldorf.

In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to Minneapolis VA Health Care System in the programs Hospice and Palliative Care or Fischer House; both were instrumental in Bob's final days: https://www.va.gov/minneapolis-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/

Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:15 p.m. and Parish Prayers at 6:30 on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at Schoeneberger Funeral and Cremation Service in Perham. Visitation will resume at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Mass at 11:00 on Friday, May 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dent, MN. Interment with Military Honors will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Perham.

Schoeneberger Funeral & Cremation Service, Perham, MN (218) 346-5175 www.schoenebergerfh.com