Robert “Bob” Applen
Monday, August 19, 1929
Date of Death:
Monday, June 3, 2013
Age:
83 years old
Monday, August 19, 1929
Date of Death:
Monday, June 3, 2013
Age:
83 years old
Monday, August 19, 1929
Date of Death:
Monday, June 3, 2013
Age:
83 years old
Robert “Bob” Applen
Robert Dean Applen, age 83 of Rochester, passed away on Monday, June 3, 2013 at Maple Manor Healthcare.
Bob was born on August 19, 1929 in Granger, MN to William and Laura Applen. He grew up in Granger and attended the country school there. His four-person first-grade class was taught by the country school teacher, Bob’s sister Alberta. Bob graduated from Harmony High School in 1947. Following high school, Bob worked on the family farm, where he developed an interest in honey bee keeping. Bob became an accomplished gardener, and notably kept a large garden that surrounded the Viola Creamery. On November 1, 1951, he and five of his Granger friends, enlisted in the US Air Force. He serviced as an airplane mechanic in 509 Airborne Division. He was honorably discharged on November 1, 1954. Bob Worked as a mechanic for Gopher Aviation at the Rochester airport and Guesthouse Inc. until his retirement. He later worked at Rochester Central Lutheran School and the Elgin American Legion. On June 8, 1979 he married Delores Cassidy at the Viola Church. Bob loved hunting and fishing, often times on Upper Iowa River, which flowed through his childhood farm. Bob was an expert story teller, and those who knew him, say he painted a vivid picture in their minds using the words of his stories.
Bob is survived by his wife Delores of Rochester, a brother Lauren Applen of Harmony, MN; step-children: Thomas (Carol) Cassidy, Daniel (Wanda) Cassidy, Mark (Cindy) Cassidy, Paul Cassidy and Richard Cassidy all of Rochester, Marcia (Frank) Greco of Naperville, IL, Judy (Tina) of San Diego, CA; nieces and nephews: Steve (Mary) Applen of Minneapolis, Scott (Jamie) Applen of Olathe, Kansas, Sharon Applen of Minneapolis, Sandy (Glen) Alberts of Hanover, MN, Bill (Susan) Kulstad of Ohio, Judy Turk of Richmond, VA, Sara (Irv) Gottesman of Minneapolis, Gary (Milla) Applen of Austin, MN, David (Jane) Bigalk of Harmony, MN, Rita (Jerry) Vollmer of Prior Lake, MN and Rosalie (George) Rusavic of Oronoco, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Odrie, and two sisters Margaret (Samuel) Bigalk and Alberta (William) Kulstad.
A funeral service for Bob will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, June 8, 2013 in The River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will be in the St. Matthews Lutheran Cemetery in Granger, MN.
Macken Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
Condolences
The family of Robert “Bob” Applen has received the following condolences.
Our thougths and prayers are with you. Many memories of us working with him at Guest House. He was a kind man.
Dear Delores,
Please accept my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences in your loss of Bob. He was a good and kind man. I'll always have wonderful memories of working with him at Guest House. You are remembered in my prayers.
Sincerely, Arlyn Gagnon
Dear Delores,
Please accept my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences in your loss of Bob. He was a good and kind man. I'll always have wonderful memories of working with him at Guest House. You are remembered in my prayers.
Sincerely, Arlyn Gagnon
My sincere sympathy to your family. I always thought of Bob and the Viola Creamery as part of the fabric of Viola.
May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories that will overcome your sorrow of his passing.
Cheryl Kohler (granddaughter of Clair and Verda Smith)
Delores - What a good and gracious man. My thoughts and prayers are for you, Delores. May you find comfort in knowing he went home to God and will be forever in His gardens and tending His bees. Julie Cassidy
Bob & I go back a long time. We worked together at Gopher for many years. We were always good buddies. We had a lot of wonderful hunting & fishing trips.Bob& Johnny used to come visit us in Winona every year. I will miss you old friend. Love in Christ Don& Margaret
To Bob's family:
I saw Bob last November at Dennis' funeral. I had not seen him in many. many years and was pleased at how well and happy he looked. I knew Bob when he was bee-keeping at the Viola Creamery, and, of course, Denny grew up in Viola and knew him well. Such a kind and gracious man. I am so sorry to learn of his passing.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. May the good Lord watch over you during this difficult time, and bring you comfort and peace.
My deepest sympathy to you and yours.
Shirley Richardson