Robert R. Soltau, age 89, of LeRoy, Minnesota, passed away July 8, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota.
Robert was the son of Herbert H. Soltau and Kathleen Soltau, was born near Beaman, Iowa, in Grundy County on June 30, 1937. His family moved to the LeRoy, Minnesota, area in 1940 where he attended and graduated from LeRoy Public School in 1955. He attended Austin Junior College, graduating in 1957. He then attended Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, graduating in 1960. In May 1960 he started working for Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation in Calumet, Minnesota, as an electrician. In June 1960 he was united in marriage to Juanita J. Voigt of Taopi, Minnesota. They made their home in Pengilly, Minnesota, until Bob was drafted into the United States Army in January 1961. He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Gordon, Georgia and Fort Carson, Colorado. He was honorably discharged in January 1963. He returned to LeRoy where he joined his father in his electrical business and worked with him until 1985. In February 1986 he went to work for Hormel Foods Corporation as an electrician retiring from there in April 2006. In August 2006 he started working for Ventus Energy Systems as an electrician for two years on Horizons Windmill Farms near Grand Meadow, Minnesota, retiring in November 2007.
His first wife, Juanita, died in September 1978. A son, Leonard H. Soltau was born to this union. In February 1982 he married Janice Babb in the First Presbyterian Church in LeRoy.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Kathleen Soltau, his first wife. Juanita Soltau; several aunts and uncles, a sister, Bertha Koch; a grandson, Derek Soltau; and a brother-in-law, Robert Weness.
He is survived by his wife Janice Soltau, son Leonard (Brenda) Soltau, two grandchildren, Kyle Soltau and Kayla (Cordell) Stockdale; three great-grandchildren: Harper, Everly and Brooks Stockdale; one stepdaughter, Jennifer (Mark) King; three step-grandchildren: Joshua (Lisa) King, Nathan (Samantha) King and Thomas (Lindsey) King; six step-great-grandchildren; Eli, Caleb, Asher, Aiden, Liam and Langston King; two sisters, Beverly Weness and Barbara (Ronald) Bertsh; two brothers, Thomas (Jill) Soltau and Richard (Ann) Soltau; and a brother-in-law, Richard Koch.
Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday July 14, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church in LeRoy, Minnesota, with Pastor Dixie Loube officiating. Burial will be in the LeRoy Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. on the day of the service at the church.
Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
Leave a Reply