Robert Earl KALKWARF

KALKWARF, GEALOW, TEGLAND, BOELMAN, LINN, ROMA, BARCLAY, KALKWARF-BARCLAY, TENOLD, GABRIELSON, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/30/2011 at 10:33:18

April 9, 1927 --- September 27, 2011

BELMOND, IA — Robert “Bob” E. Kalkwarf, 84, a lifelong resident of Belmond, died Monday, Sept. 27, 2011, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond with his loving family at his side. Funeral services will be Saturday, Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m., at St. John Lutheran Church, Belmond. The Rev. James Gochenouer will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7 p.m., at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First Street S.E., Belmond, and continues one hour prior to the services at church on Saturday. Memorials may be directed in care of the family or to the donor’s choice.

Robert Earl Kalkwarf, the son of Peter and Bertha (Gealow) Kalkwarf, was born April 9, 1927, at Belmond. Bob attended Belmond Schools and graduated from Belmond High School with the Class of 1944. Following his schooling he commenced his lifelong vocation as a farmer. Bob was united in marriage to Ilene Tegland on Nov. 27, 1947, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church west of Belmond. The couple’s union was blessed with a son and daughter, Earl and Rachel. Bob’s farming career not only provided for the needs of his family, but was truly his passion. He was an excellent farmer, raising crops and hogs, and very much enjoyed reaping the fruits of his labors. He and Ilene farmed and raised their children on farms in Belmond. Not only was Bob a good farmer, but he had the mind of an engineer, creating many tools and machinery that made the tasks of farming and other duties easier and more efficient. His intuition and ingenuity led to him developing and constructing tools and machines of the trade for himself and others. Bob was also known in the area for his superb welding skills and ability to weld nearly anything that one could weld. Bob’s love of farming was only overshadowed by his love for his wife, children and grandchildren. He truly was a family man. He always put the needs of others before those of his own.

Bob was an avid outdoors man who looked forward to the excitement of fox hunting, deer hunting and elk hunting excursions both around the area and also big game adventures to Wyoming. The family remember many trips to the Spearfish, S.D., area and fishing outings to northern Minnesota throughout the years. Bob and Ilene enjoyed playing cards. Bob had a love of golf and was an integral part of the founding and development of the Belmond Country Club, which was built on one of the Kalkwarf family farms. Bob was always up for a good auction and would often stop at the local body shop or a friend’s place on the way home from the sale to share his well thought-out purchases. Bob’s purchases always had a purpose. Bob’s faith life was very important to him and he was very active in the St. John Lutheran Church, serving in various roles including on the church council, as an usher, on the building and education committee, and always offered his skills, knowledge and support wherever it was needed. In recent years Bob and Ilene could often be seen touring about town, out and about at one of the local restaurants, or at various community functions. Rarely would you see one without the other. Bob was always up for a good conversation with his buddies at the local hardware store.

Those who had the privilege of crossing in Bob’s life journey will remember him as a well-spoken man of integrity with a sense of place and purpose for everything. They will remember his unique and sometimes dry sense of humor, his friendly demeanor, warm smile and that welcoming wink he would often share. His legacy and memory will be cherished by his wife and life partner of nearly 64 years, Ilene Kalkwarf, and his son, Earl (Julie) Kalkwarf, and daughter, Rachel (Verlyn) Boelman, all of Belmond; sister, Ruth Linn, Eagle Grove; grandchildren: Lane Boelman, Reed (Anna) Boelman, Jessica (Travis) Roma, Andy Kalkwarf-Barclay, Jennifer (Steve) Tenold, and Dr. Dan (Lyndi) Gabrielson; great grandchildren: Thomas, Mackenzie, Cael, Carson, Cade, Kenedie, Bradan, Quinn and Preston. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dorothy Schmidt. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

September 30, 2011
Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa