Robert Cole

Robert (Bob) Cole, 97, of Motley, passed away September 1, 2021 at St. William’s Living Center in Parker’s Prairie.

Funeral services were  held Sept. 11, at the Assembly of God Church in Staples with Rev. Mike Shields officiating. 

Burial was in the Motley Public Cemetery. 

Bob was born in Fairview Township, Cass County on August 24, 1923, to  Ralph and Agnes (Duffy) Cole. He attended a country school and worked on his family farm. In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII. He fought in combat in the Philippine Islands and later became a Flight Engineer on a B-17 Bomber in the 77th Emergency Rescue Squad out of Hickman Field, Hawaii. He returned home to Pillager after the war, helping his father run his sawmill. He eventually moved to Minneapolis working various jobs there. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950, during the Korean War, serving on the Destroyer USS Steven Potter. On a two week leave, he was united in marriage to Doris Frisk on July 28, 1951 at the Motley Gospel Tabernacle, the start of an almost 60-year marriage. When he returned from the navy in 1954, Bob and Doris lived in Minneapolis where Bob was employed at the Minneapolis Post Office. He eventually worked at the St. Paul Post Office as a Postal Clerk and the family moved to West St. Paul where they raised their family. Upon retirement from the post office in 1980, they moved to the banks of the Crow Wing River near Motley to enjoy their retirement years. Bob was a nature enthusiast, an avid reader and devoted to the Lord. Robert served on church boards in St. Paul and at Staples Assembly of God Church and served on the May Township Board. He was very proud of his military service to our country.

Bob is survived by one son, Timothy Cole of Staples; one daughter, Luann (Noel) Mindeman of Barney, ND; three grandchildren, Nathan (Shannon) Mindeman of Jacksonville, NC, Kristin (Mike) Volkman of Apple Valley and Kari (Matthew) Treadwell of Jonestown, TX; two great-grandchildren, Louis and William Mindeman; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Cole; two brothers, Everett (Angela) Cole of Othello, WA and Eldon Cole of Des Moines, IA; one sister, Florence Espeseth of Parsons, KS and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; parents; three brothers and two sisters.

Arrangements were by the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.

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