Robert “Bob” Bakken, age 72, of Harmony passed away Tuesday evening, June 9, 2020, at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be Sunday, June 14 from 2-5 p.m. at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony. Friends are welcome to call during that time. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m Monday, June 15 at Greenfield Lutheran Church, Harmony, followed by burial in Greenfield Cemetery.
Bob Bakken was born October 31, 1947, in Stewartville, Minn., to Orin and Betty (Long) Bakken. He graduated from Stewartville High School in 1965. He and Bonnie Schrandt were married on July 1, 1972, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stewartville. Early in his life he worked for Pepsicola as a delivery route driver, following that endeavor he had a Little Debbie franchise which also included working a delivery route. Later he installed DeLaval and Surge Dairy equipment on local dairy farms; it was at this time he developed an interest in dairy operations and started his own dairy farm, which they had until 1992. His favorite occupation was working for Fillmore County as a dispatcher and jailer, which he worked from 1983 until retiring in 2010.
During retirement Bob drove school bus and enjoyed hanging out with the guys at the bus shed. Bob was frequently seen with his 2002 yellow Ford Mustang, which he loved to drive, along with playing golf, woodworking, washing cars, keeping the lawn well manicured, as well as being able to fix anything.
Bob is survived by his wife Bonnie Bakken of Harmony; two children: Michelle (Jay) Rice of Lime Springs, Iowa, and Jim (Christy) Bakken of Preston, Minn.; four grandchildren: Brandon and Bradley Munkel and Mathew and Joshua Bakken; three step-grandchildren: Kyle, Brandi (Sam Ollendieck) and Jarrett Rice along with one step-great-grandchild, Luke Ollendieck. He is further survived by six siblings: JoAnn Stevens of Aurora, Colo., Nancy Bakken of Rochester, Minn., Keith Bakken of Owatonna, Minn., Randy (Meladee) Bakken of Stewartville, Minn., Carol Bakken of Johnstown, Colo., and Robin (Ronnie) Vrieze of Racine, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, David Bakken, a brother-in-law, Gary Stevens, and a niece, Trudy Stevens.
The family wishes to extend a “Thank you” to Mayo Hospice and are appreciative of everything they did!! In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Hospice or the Food Shelf.
Michael Holzer says
Thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Bob was a classmate of mine. He and I went Halloween tick or treatng together when we were in the fourth grade. That was my first time ever trick or treating. We had a blat..
Orin picked up can milk for my dad from 1955 to 1961.
What memories.
God rest his soul!