A Celebration of Life Service for Robert J. “Bob” Friesen, 76, of St. James, MN, was held on December 7, 2018, at First Lutheran Church. Bob was laid to rest in Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James, MN.

Bob was called to his eternal rest on Friday afternoon, November 30, 2018, at the Luther Memorial Home in Madelia, MN. Visitation was held prior to the service on Friday, December 7, 2018, at the Church in St. James. Messages of Sympathy may be sent to the family on-line at www.kramerfuneralhome.com.

Robert John Friesen was born on October 3, 1942, to Benno and Adonna (Moede) Friesen in Mountain Lake, MN. He graduated from St. James High School with the class of 1960. Bob started working at S-T Industries in St. James in 1961. On April 4, 1964, he was united in marriage to Sandra Wedge at St. James, MN. Bob served in the National Guard. Bob and Sandy moved to Illinois in 1969 for Bob’s job with Rank Schuerr-Tumico and later they returned to St. James in 1979 where Bob continued working for S-T Industries until retiring as a VP in charge of Sales and Marketing in 2014.

Colleague Mary Zimmerman said of Bob, “He hired me back in 1985 and I worked for him until his retirement in 2014. I visited with him and Sandy about 2 weeks before his passing, and he was still full of stories of his years at S-T.”

Bob was a member of the First Lutheran Church in St. James. Bob traveled all over the world for his job, but when at home he loved working in his yard, building models, which in later years turned into a love of trains. His trains were donated to the St. James Railroad Club s/be Roundhouse Model RR Club to be viewed as part of their display.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandy Friesen of St. James, Minnesota; three daughters, Lisa (Ross) Kohn of North Mankato, Minnesota, Darci (Lon) DePoppe of St. James, Minnesota and Renae Garcia of North Mankato, Minnesota; 12-grandchildren; 5-great-grandchildren; siblings, Bruce (Carol) Friesen of St. James, Minnesota, Barb (Bruce) Melzer of New Ulm, Minnesota; brother and sister-in-law, Dennis (Barb) Wedge of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Linda (Keith) Holte of Oklahoma; nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Benno and Adonna Friesen; parents-in-law, Everett and Minora Wedge; brother, Barry Friesen and other relatives.