Robert Bob Aberle

Robert "Bob" Aberle, 81, Menoken, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Minnesota, due to complications following heart surgery on August 26, 2013. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 am Friday, August 30, at Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, with Rev. Msgr. Thomas Richter celebrant and Rev. David Richter, Rev. Josh Walz and other priests concelebrants. Burial will be held at the North Dakota State Veteran Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Thursday, August 29, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil will begin at 7:00 pm. Bob was born January 7, 1932, in Zeeland, ND, the third of 15 children born to Sebastian and Helen Schmidt Aberle. He attended school in Zeeland until the family moved to Bismarck where he attended St. Mary's Grade and St. Mary's High School. On February 14, 1950, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps. Following training, he was a member of the Marines 1st Battalion which landed at the Inchon Peninsula at the start of the Korean War. He fought in the epic battle of the Chosin Reservoir which lasted 17 days in subzero temperatures. Bob's feet were frozen, and he suffered from this the rest of his life. While he was recuperating at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, north of Chicago, he met the love of his life, Janice Reichert. Next Bob went to school to serve our country as a drill instructor. He trained recruits at Paris Island, South Carolina, to become Marines. He finished his tour on February 13, 1954. Bob always said his years in the Marine Corps prepared him for the leadership roles in his future career. He truly lived by the motto, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." On July 3, 1954, Bob and Jan were married in Racine, WI. They moved to Bismarck where Bob started working as a lowboy driver for Northern Improvement and ended his career 42 years later as the Vice President of underground pipe, overhead power lines, and underground mine reclamation. At the time of his retirement he had overseen the installation of 11, 329 miles of water lines bringing fresh water to thousands of people in rural areas. Bob always had a love of the land, so in 1963 he purchased his first piece of equipment, rented some land, and began farming as a hobby. This hobby has grown tremendously and is now owned-operated by three of his sons. Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman. Many family memories were made during hunting, camping, and fishing trips. After his retirement, Bob and Jan traveled extensively in their motor home and enjoyed winters in Florida, Texas, and Arizona. During their travels they made wonderful friends throughout the country. Bob was a longtime member of St. Hildegard's Catholic Church in Menoken, where he served as trustee, member of the parish council, God Share co-chair, and Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the St. Mary's High School booster board and served as president for two terms. Bob also served as a board member of BACEF. He was a founder and president of the Roughrider Snowmobile Club. He was also a member of the Elks, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Newmar Kountry Klub, and the NRA. Bob's utmost priority in life has always been his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who taught us by example to love God, one another, and our country. Bob was a great family man who instilled in us all the importance of working hard, being the best you can be, and spending quality time with family. He thoroughly enjoyed attending his childrens' and grandchildrens' school and athletic events, and having his family and extended family in his presence was his greatest joy. Bob will be deeply missed and forever loved by his wife, Jan, of 59 years and their children, Barbara Paul Silbernagel, Robert Tamie Aberle, Ron Dawn Aberle, Ric Patti Aberle, Randy Pam Aberle, and Roger Kim Aberle; his grandchildren, Kristi Lance Meyer, Becky Silbernagel, Alex Cech, Adam, Marie, Gabe, Brooke, Megan, Matt, Jessica, Jonathan, Thomas and Zachary Aberle; and two great-grandsons, Maxtyn and Mason Meyer. He is also survived by seven brothers, Joe Lillian, Mike Marilyn, Ray Marge, Dave Mary Lou, Richard Claudia, Pat Marilyn, and Nich Shirley; five sisters, Virginia Kampa, Mary Lou Chastain, Zerline Don Goebel, Marge Ray Esty, and Helen Jay Marshall; his in-laws, Harriet Aberle, Donna Em Wenzel, and Ronald Nancy Reichert; and special friends, Art and Carol Schmitz. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James; sister, Elizabeth Peterson; and mother-in-law, Lollie Reichert. Semper Fi Dad. We love you. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Central High School for the Bob and Jan Aberle family scholarship.

Robert Bob Aberle

January 7, 1932 - August 26, 2013