Robert F. Walser

Interment will take place at St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery with military funeral honors.

Robert was born December 5, 1927, at the rural Minnesota Lake home of parents, Frank and Mary (Carlin) Walser. After high school graduation, Robert enrolled for one year at Michigan State College in East Lansing. Robert enlisted in the United States Navy on May 6, 1946 and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth VA. He served as a hospital corpsman and completed his Naval duty as a yeoman in 1948.

Returning to his family farm in Minnesota, Robert enrolled at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. While standing street side, enjoying a parade in the Twin Cities, Robert was nudged by a gal trying to see the passing parade. She was Margaret “Pete” Staloch. They knew each other from attending schools in their neighboring hometowns of southern Minnesota as well as local dances. Bob and Pete were married July 12, 1952, at St. Casimir Catholic Church. Their shared passion for fishing was evident in their honeymoon plans, a fishing trip up north. Those summer fishing trips continued annually for the couple throughout their married lives. A second trip added when the children were old enough to hold fishing poles.

Robert graduated June 19, 1954, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He was licensed to practice in both Iowa and Minnesota. Bob, Pete, and one year old son, Paul, moved to Stacyville, Iowa on July 1, 1954, which was also the beginning of Dr. R. F. Walser’s large animal practice.

In 1958, Bob and Pete bought a farm, where they raised their five children. After 39 years of providing veterinary medicine in Iowa’s Mitchell County and Minnesota’s Mower County, Bob retired on June 1, 1993.

Bob was a competitive athlete. He used the expanse of the farm’s lawn to improve his golf swing and short game. Finding time for a round of golf with his friends was sometimes a challenge with daily calls to farms throughout the busy summer months.

Wednesday afternoon was the established work break to meet with his golfing buddies. With golf coming to an end in the fall, Bob would set his sights on pheasant season. Bob knew in advance how successful the season may be as he kept a pheasant count while driving country roads between clients’ farms.

A series of phenomenal German shorthaired pointers were his hunting partners, riding with him in the vet truck throughout the season.

When time allowed between farm visits, Bob and Ike, Helga, Casper, etc. would work creek beds and fields with hopes of flushing a rooster or two.

During winter months of football games and hockey, Bob took up cross-stitch; later on, he enjoyed crewel needlework. His tablecloths and bedspreads showed his mastery of a variety of stitches. He was also known to help the quilt club hand-quilt their beautiful creations.

Bob was diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma at the age of 85. He was declared a survivor of his cancer after receiving chemotherapy and follow up care at the Mayo Clinic.

Bob left his farm on Mother’s Day in 2016, to reside at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Daniel DeRoche. In late October, Bob moved to Mill Creek Senior Living in Marquette, Michigan.

Bob is survived by his children: Ann (Gene) Kalis of Sparta, WI, Karen (Daniel) DeRoche of Negaunee, MI, Joan Walser (Mark Wumkes) of Juneau, AK, Mary Walser (Brennan Baehler) of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren: Charles (Sarah) DeRoche, Daniel DeRoche, Stacy (Tim) Shaker, Preston (Kelly) Kalis; great-grandchildren: Charles, Ella, Adelyn DeRoche, Alexander Shaker, Quinn, Ethan Kalis; brother: Charles(Dolores) Walser of Lakeland, FL; brother-in-law: Quentin Staloch of Minnesota Lake; sister-in-law: Karen Hoeg of Northfield, MN, along with many nieces and nephews.

Bob was proceeded in death by his wife Margaret “Pete” and son Paul; siblings: John, Henry (Gladys), Loretta (Joe); siblings-in-law: Dorothy Walser, Jean (Frank) Hadju, Eunice (Norris) Overby, Lil (Donald) Jensen, Connie Staloch, Chuck Hoeg, Bob (Sherry) Staloch.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider: Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice https://uphomehealth.org 11125 West Ridge St., Marquette MI 49855

Pheasants Forever https://pheasants forever.org/donations

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home of Marquette, MI and Bruss-Heitner Funeral Homes of Wells, MN, (507) 553-3124.