Bob and Jane visiting Renee in Hawaii

Duluth Day Dinner for MN Jaycees

Bob and Riley

Bob and his dog, Sandy

Bicentennial Committee for Benson, MN

Bob and Jane with Jan Kittleson

Bob with Tori

Always falling asleep somewhere....

The tradition of making homemade ice cream at Christmas

Christmas 1963 — with Tori Anderson

He loved a good puzzle!

Gazing at Janie who left his side in 2016

The Klingle Family (Francis "Bud" and Clara Klingle front row, with sons Don, Bob, and Bud in the back row)

Bob and his daughter Tori

A trip to the Pillsbury A Mill

Always comforted by animals even if they were weighted stuffed ones

Playing with bean bags at the nursing home. Always such a character!

Bob and his daughter Tori

Always the jokester. I believe we locked Mom inside in this picture.

My father was a man of many words and would debate the silliest of facts and tell the wildest of stories. However, the times that standout most vividly in my memory today are the moments he was without words. I recall one Christmas Eve when I sat in my room having some sort of a teenage temper tantrum and he just sat on the floor silently waiting for me to calm down. He waited until he fell asleep sitting up and in that moment I knew I had someone in my life who cared so deeply for me even when I could be such a schmuck. A few years ago, I sat by his bed in the nursing home fighting back the tears unsuccessfully. I hated that he no longer had any words and I couldn't find the words to say goodbye again. In that moment he looked deeply in my eyes and struggled to bring his crooked, painful fingers to his eyes and slightly smiled as if to say all was okay and to wipe the tears. In my last long visit I jokingly said that I wish he could just figure out a way to get his words out. He took his stiff hand and pushed it in my chest. I said I love you too and he did it again. The man with so many words still had his words. In his final days he may have forgotten so much, including how to use words, but he never forgot how to make me and everyone around him feel loved. I'm comforted to know that he is now in a place where he is likely using his words to tell stories to anyone who will listen and he now remembers who he is. Rest in peace dad. Your silence still makes my heart beat. (Originally posted on Facebook the day of his passing)