Robert N. Housker, age 71, of rural Mabel, died Monday, October 4, 2021, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. He received fatal injuries from a tractor rollover on October 1 while lifting a small boulder.
Robert was born December 16, 1949, in Caledonia, Minn., to Bernard and Signe (Aasum) Housker. He grew up on the family farm in Preble Township of Fillmore County, Minn., and graduated from Mabel-Canton High School in 1967. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1968 and was stationed in Turkey and Alaska. After his enlistment was over, he returned to Mabel and ran a small dairy farm for about four years. Afterwards, he re-enlisted in the military and joined the United States Navy. When he finished boot camp at Great Lakes, Chicago, he received training for Cryptologic Technician. Subsequent duty stations were Iceland, NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola (twice) and at least seven ships with the last one being the USS Bunker Hill. He retired as a Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Lieutenant.
He was united in marriage to Terese L. Nicholson in Pensacola, Fla., at Immanuel Lutheran Church. After his retirement in 1993, he moved his family to the FARM in rural Mabel, Minn., and has farmed there ever since. He also worked second jobs at Winnebago Software, Fillmore Place, Fastenal, Northern Engraving, and Farmer’s Coop. He enjoyed working the farm and accepted the challenge of maintaining a farm house built in 1901.
Before coming to Mabel, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business. He never stopped learning, had good organizional skills, with the truth being primary importance to him, was knowledgeable in a varied array of subjects and he had an infectious sense of humor. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and cherished his trips to Norway to visit his distant relatives in Finnoy (his father’s side) and Kristiansund (his mother’s side)
Robert was also proud of his service to his country and was an active member of the American Legion post #299 in Mabel. There, he was the current commander and concurrently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with holding previous position as commander of post #5769. He was also quartermaster of the Fillmore County Legion Council. He served many years on the Scheie Lutheran Church Council and was its current president.
Robert is survived by his wife Terese of Indianapolis, Ind.; two children, Nils (Raena) of Onalaska, Wis., and Adelle of Mabel; Nils’ children Finnley and Ava, a sister, Carol (Scott) Christensen of Fort Collins, Colo.; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Signe.
Visitation will be Friday, October 15, 5-7 p.m. at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 16, 11 a.m., with Lane Zaffke officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
Will Robinson says
I was a friend of Robert’s at Karamursel Air Base in Turkey, and am saddened to hear of his death. We lost touch after Turkey, but I remember that his heritage was in his blood, and that he was very grounded and a really pleasant guy to know. He once told me about his old Harley, which he obviously loved. He said it was so powerful and torquey that when you accelerated, all you could do was hold on to the handlebars!
My sincere condolences to his family.