Robert "Bob" Sundberg Obituary

Robert (Bob) Maurice Sundberg      

April 26, 1935 – December 21, 2021

Robbinsdale, MN

Bob Sundberg passed away peacefully on December 21, 2021. Bob took great pride in his marriage to his wife, Diane Mary Blechinger, and their family of eight children, thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Bob was born in Minneapolis, MN on April 26, 1935. He spent his childhood in Minneapolis, MN and Waukesha, WI.  After high school graduation, Bob enrolled in the US Navy and proudly served his country aboard the USS Oriskany from 1954 to 1956. Following his military service, Bob was taken in as an “adopted son” by Elmer and Bea Gilbert, parents of his childhood friend, Don Gilbert. Bob and Don were inseparable best friends, and often reminisced of their pranks and shenanigans ‘back in the day’!  It was no surprise when Bob and Don each met their “perfect someone” in sisters Gayle and Diane Blechinger. Two weddings later, Bob became brother-in-law to his good friend, Don. Over the years, Bob always teared-up with gratitude when he shared the story of how the Gilberts took him in as one of their own and gave him a family when he needed it.

After marrying in 1957, Bob and Diane raised their family in Robbinsdale, MN. Bob worked as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service. While working fulltime and raising his young family, Bob attended evening business classes at the University of Minnesota. His career advanced within the postal service, where he worked closely with the Postmaster General assigned to national payroll operations in the Postal Data Center until his retirement in 1990. Bob and Diane enjoyed sixty-two years of marriage together until her passing in 2019.

Bob taught himself to ice skate and became an avid hockey fan. In the 1970’s, he co-founded the Robbinsdale Youth Hockey Association (RYHA). He invested countless hours volunteering as a league organizer and coach within the RYHA program. His children have fond memories of his passion for the game while coaching their Peewee and Squirt hockey teams outdoors in sub-zero weather. Bob also volunteered as coach in the Robbinsdale Youth Baseball program. He was a long-standing member of St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Golden Valley, MN. He often reminisced about the fun he had dealing black-jack at church fundraising events. Bob loved to golf recreationally and in leagues, investing time teaching his children to enjoy the game as well. Bob was a competitive cribbage player and never turned down a chance to play the game.  He loved live music and theater performances and would often return to local community theater plays to see every show in a given run. He enjoyed listening to classic country and big band music.  Bob also loved sharing stories of his life experiences. Anyone who spent time with him had the privilege of listening to his tried-and-true narrations – perhaps even hearing them for a second or third time!

Bob was eighty-six years of age at the time of his death. He is survived by his children; Bob (Lori), Mark, Tom, Larry, Cheryll (Dan) Wiseman, Kevin (Becky), Diane and Paul; grandchildren, Erik, Alek, Jennie, Doug, Daniel, Janessa, Matt, Marc, Nick, Britney (aka Charlie), Laura, Jonathan and Joseph; great-grandchildren, Raelyn, Jayden, Kyra, Callie, Mason, Jackson, Autumn, Faith, Evie, Conor, Braxton and Lincoln. He is preceded in death by his wife, Diane Mary Sundberg; parents, Robert M (Sr.) and Abigail Sundberg; and his sisters, Rose Bouffard and Arlene Champagne.

Mass of Christian Burial held Monday January 3, 2022 at the Church of St. Margaret Mary; 2323 Zenith Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55422.  Visitation will take place at 10:00 AM followed by Mass at 11:00 AM. A lunch and fellowship hour will take place at the church following the service. A private interment will take place at Gethsemane Cemetery.