Robert Babler, 78, of Winona, MN died Thursday 4 Nov 2011 at Lake Winona Manor. Funeral services were held on Monday 8 Nov 2011 at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Burial was with military rites in Pickwick Cemetery. Obit. in Winona Daily News. Rev. Paul Weike Officiated.
Robert was born 27 Nov 1931 in Pickwick, MN, to John and Oline (Westgard) Babler. He served his country in the U.S. Air force from 1951 to 1954.
He married Lorraine Thiele in 1953, they were later divorced. He married Doris Mueller Storlie 21 Dec 1963. She predeceased him in death on 10 March 1980. He married Beverly Mueller on 14 July 1990.
Robert was a member of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a dredge operator for Kertzman's Dredging, Rober's Dredging and Brennan's Dredging. He retired from the Operating Engineer's (the forty-niners). He then was the Manager of the American Legion for two years. Robert was a member for 50 years and past commander of Leon J. Wetzel American Legion Post 9 and a member of the Forty and Eight.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doris; eight brothers, Albert, Ralph, William, Richard, Matthew and John Babler, and twins, Henry & Charles Hanson; two sisters, Mary Ann Wilson and Anna Thompson.
He is survived by wife, Beverly; one sister, Ada Babler Wilson, Clinton, Iowa; three children, Bruce (Beth) Babler of Port Orchard, Wash., Cindy Turner of Viroqua, Wis., and Pam (Delmer) Husman of Stockton; five step children, Kathy (Keith) Kimmel of Pepin, Wis., Jim Mueller of Minnesota City, Suzanne (Richard Roman) Mueller of Minnesota City, Michael Mueller of Snoqualmie, WA, and Jill (Kevin Kimmel) Mueller of Minnesota City; 17 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and wonderful friends.
Casket bearers were Leland Johnson, Darrel Monson, Rick Babler, Tom Babler, Todd Benson and Bob Rustad.