Robert "Bob" Rosendahl

     Robert Rosendahl, age 89, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, August 31, 2014, at Wellington Place in Decorah.      Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 6, 2014, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Stacey Nalean – Carlson presiding. Burial will be in the Glenwood East Cemetery, Decorah, IA.      Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Saturday morning.      Robert Howard “Bob” Rosendahl was born on August 19, 1925, the son of Oscar and Carrie (Olson) Rosendahl on the family farm in Glenwood Township, rural Decorah, IA. Bob was baptized on September 20, 1925 at the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and confirmed on May 26, 1940, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church. Bob attended country schools in Glenwood Township and graduated from Decorah High School in 1943. Bob helped on the family farm and drove truck for his uncle, Henry Olson, before serving in the US Army from 1951-52. While in the service, he spent 16 months in the Korean Conflict as a military policeman. After the service, he actively farmed with his family until he retired in 1988. Bob was united in marriage to Leona Snyder on April 27, 1956, at the United Lutheran Church in Ridgeway (Peace Lutheran Church) and they were blessed with five children. In addition to dairy farming, Bob served the ASC for 31 years, at the township and county level, the Winneshiek County Health Improvement Association (WCHIA) for 25 years, and served for 17 years on the Winneshiek County Fair Board with the last 7 years as president. Bob clerked for the Decorah Sales Commission for over 40 years. He volunteered at the Vesterheim Museum for 14 years as a guide for the outdoor buildings and Norwegian translator. He was a long-time member of the Hageland Lag, serving as president for 8 years. Bob was a member of the Quarterback Club at Luther College. Bob and Leona enjoyed three trips to Norway with the Lag in retirement and they enjoyed wintering in Arizona from 1989-2012. Bob enjoyed playing cards, attending his children and grandchildren’s events and activities. Bob took pride on being a good steward of the land, by planting over 30,000 trees; which are still thriving today. He said that they were planted for his grandchildren to enjoy someday. Bob was also very proud of his Norwegian heritage and that all of his children attended Luther College. Bob was a lifelong member of the Glenwood Lutheran Church. Above everything else, Bob was proud of his loving wife, children and grandchildren.      Bob is survived by his wife: Leona Rosendahl, Decorah, IA. Five children: Alan Rosendahl, Kesley, IA; Karen (Ed) Stamper, Waukon, IA; Alyce (Jeff) Schaller, Decorah, IA; John (Beth) Rosendahl, Plymouth, MN; and Marilyn (Lee) Anderson, Waukon, IA. Twelve grandchildren: Benton (Greta) Stamper, Chelsey Stamper, Chad (Julie) Stamper, Dawn (Jeremy) Farnan, Jordan, Andrew and Autumn Schaller, Marcus, Jake and Julia Rosendahl, Annika and Betsy Anderson. Six great grandchildren: Freda Stamper, Ellie, Jack and Eva Stamper, Ryan and Quinn Farnan. One brother-in-law: Duane (Rita) Snyder, Decorah, IA. Leona’s aunts: Helen Riehle, Spillville, IA and Irene Haskovec, Cresco, IA. Also surviving is Lynette Ellefson, Mesa, AZ, and Marjorie Hove, Decorah, IA.      Bob was preceded in death by his parents: Oscar and Carrie (Olson) Rosendahl. His father and mother-in-law: Toney and Bessie (Haskovec) Snyder, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.      It was evening in a quaint little valley. In the middle of God’s Country stood a barn. Inside the cozy compass barn, cows stood facing North, South, East and West. While the compressor and pulsators kept a steady beat, a tall, proud man, with smiling eyes looked out across a half-harvested field. Deer and turkey had cleaned up the corn left from Milton’s chopper. Beyond the field, as the western sun set the hillside was ablaze of color. The man knew every tree on the hill: oak, maple, walnut, cherry, and pine. As he returned and tended to his cows, he thought takk din Gud (thanks to God) for this beautiful land he lived on.