Herald Journal Publishing

Publisher of Herald Journal, Dassel-Cokato Enterprise Dispatch, Delano Herald Journal, McLeod County Chronicle, Arlington Enterprise, & West Carver News

Robert “Bob” Koenig obituary, 1/1/06


Robert “Bob” Koenig, age 80 of Hector, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center.
Funeral services were Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake, with the Rev. Sharon Nelson officiating. Evelyn Wakefield was the organist. Interment followed in the Zion Evangelical Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jim Puchalski, Lee Wright, Ted Hass, Jerry Wright, Ken Wright, Brian Koenig, and Robert Henry Koenig.
Robert was born Nov. 8, 1925 in Martinsburg Township, Renville County, the son of Henry Benjamin and Grace Bell (Burgstahler) Koenig. He was baptized Feb. 21, 1926 by the Rev. Riedel; and confirmed March 26, 1939 by the Rev. Kottke at the Buffalo Lake Evangelical Church.
Bob learned much about thrift and economics during the Depression years, and attended country school in Martinsburg Twp. He graduated with the Buffalo Lake class of 1943, and soon accepted a sales position with Brookfield Seed Company in South Dakota.
On one of Bob’s roller skating episodes, he met a beautiful Scandinavian brunette, Marjorie Marilyn Hansen. They were married in a candlelight service at First Lutheran Church in Dassel Sept. 9, 1949.
Before long, the happy couple had four children, but mourned a stillborn daughter in 1957.
A lifelong learner, Bob enjoyed many activities and jobs, in addition to farming. He flew small planes with cousin Alvin Koenig, and learned mechanical skills from Main Street businessman and uncle Herman Koenig.
By the 1960s, Bob worked for Buffalo Lake Schools, driving school bus for another uncle, Elmer Koenig. He also served as a custodian with Chuck Giraud and Wes Vath.
By 1969, he was employed full-time for Green Giant Co. (later Pillsbury), having worked as a sampler, tractor driver, vinery worker, and finally, as a field representative.
Retiring in 1988, Bob continued to farm and enjoyed traveling, threshing bees, planting trees, gardening, and tending to his chickens and cats. He loved being a steward to the land, whether it was on his own farm or that of his growers, many of whom remained lifelong friends.
Bob struggled valiantly with leukemia for the past three years.
His wife, Marjorie, preceded him in death in 1967, as did his mother, Grace in 1975, and his father, Henry in 1984, a sister, Carol Wright in 1988, and a brother, Don in 2005.
Bob is survived by his greatest pride, his four children: Lynn Krejci (Bruce) of Lakeville; Mark (Ann) of Buffalo Lake; Bradley of Nicollet; and Lt. Col. Alan Koenig of Nebraska; five grandchildren: Grant and Jessica Krejci of Lakeville, Carrie Dorson of Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Kris Jacobson of Willmar, and Randy Jacobson of Bird Island; five great-grandchildren; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral arrangements were with Hughes Funeral Home.in Hector.

Back to Current Obituary List
| Obituary Archive Menu

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.