June 22, 1934 – October 25, 2021

Robert D. Tinklenberg, 87, of Willmar, died Monday, October 25, 2021, at his home in Willmar.

His memorial service was held Sunday, November 7, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar and were live-streamed on the church’s website. Military honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post #167 of Willmar. A private interment was held at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.

Robert Dale Tinklenberg was born near Worthington, Minn., on June 22, 1934. His parents, Charles and Cora, and his three older brothers moved to Edgerton when he was two to be closer to all the grandparents. He attended the Christian Grade School and Edgerton High School, lettering in football and basketball. He was proud that his high school basketball team later won the State Championship. Bob gave his Confession of Faith during his senior year at First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. That summer, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and after a year of training, was stationed at Moffit Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.

He returned to Minnesota to attend the University of Minnesota, majoring in Industrial Administration. Bob was the business manager of the Minnesota Daily Newspaper during his junior and senior years and was presented the Ski-U-Mah award before graduation. Bob met Karla Petersen at a Young Democrats meeting on campus. They married at University Lutheran Church of Hope near Dinkytown. He interned with General Mills at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and worked at their flour mill in Chicago.  Bob was the technical advisor and a salesman for Jefferson Electric. Bob and Karla’s daughter, Laura, and son, Paul, were born while they were living in Chicago. The family moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., where, after a year of schooling, Bob worked for IBM in sales and later in management for Applied Magnetics. Their son Dan was born in Santa Barbara.

In 1973, they moved back to Minnesota and Bob began his career at Jennie-O Foods. He installed the company’s first computer and served as IT Director for 28 years. While president of the Willmar Hockey Association, Bob and others worked on the referendum to build the Civic Center. Bob represented the north side of Willmar on the city council for 12 years and chaired the labor and finance committees. He served on many civic boards and committees at Vinje Lutheran Church. He was president of the Fairview Cemetery Board until his cancer diagnosis. In his 20 years of retirement, he enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting with his fall NEMSS group, fishing, and golfing with the “Geezers.” Tuesday morning Men’s Bible Study at Vinje delighted him in faith and political discussions. He enjoyed playing cribbage and bridge, fishing, boating, woodworking, and solving Sudokus. Bob and Karla built a home on Norway Lake in 1997. They enjoyed traveling to most of our National Parks both with the children and in retirement.  They moved back into Willmar six years ago. Bob’s favorite activity, besides pheasant hunting, was watching his children and grandchildren excel in their sports and musical activities.

Bob is survived by his wife, Karla; his daughter, Laura (Randy) Halter of Bellevue, Wash.; sons: Paul (Lauri) Tinklenberg of Willmar and Dan Tinklenberg (Malikha De Louw) of St. Louis Park; grandchildren: Kate Halter, Benjamin Halter, Alissa Tinklenberg (Elliot Hoekstra), Sara (Drew) Danielson, and Joshua Tinklenberg; his nieces and nephews; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; older brothers Peter, Jacob and LeRoy; a nephew, Lloyd; and daughter-in-law, Beth Tinklenberg.