Robert F. Roseberg

Robert Frederick Roseberg, age 74, passed away March 31, 2023 unexpectedly but peacefully in his home on the farm in Malmo, MN. where he lived his entire life.  He was Born April 24th, 1948, in Aitkin. Robert, Bob, Dad, Old-timer, Brother, Uncle, Friend, Farmer Bob, Grandpa Bob… he meant so many things to so many people.  He grew up on a dairy farm in Malmo and began his schooling at the one room schoolhouse “just across the pasture”, attended Isle High School, and then the University of Minnesota, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering.  Upon graduation he returned to Malmo to take over the family farm.  Bob was not just any farmer though.  He earned numerous honors and achievements for excellence in dairy farming and served on the board of many organizations  where he continued to be a part of the Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation District right up until his death.  He also served as the official Malmo weather station, calling in the high/low temperatures and precipitation each day.  In 2008 he “retired” from dairy farming to become a full-time beef cattle farmer.  Bob’s greatest legacy though was his generosity for others.  As a neighbor he served as the local helpline for any farms in the area.  He was always the first person everyone would call when they needed help with any concerns with their animals, crops, or machinery.  Day or night, he was always willing to drop whatever he was doing to lend a helping hand. 

As a father, and more recently grandfather, he never missed an important event, he always found a way to be there.  Even while milking twice a day he still never missed attending any of his children’s basketball games, even though it required hiring a neighbor to milk cows, driving hours away to the game, and not returning home until the early morning hours, while still having to be up by 5:30 AM for the morning milking.  He was always there happy and smiling.  No matter how busy he was he also always made time to play catch or shoot baskets.  He even somehow managed to be able to come in and read his boys’ bedtime stories when Will and Adam were little; although he usually would fall asleep before them, and the stories that had a magic machine would suddenly instead, have a milking machine.  Perhaps nothing gave Bob more joy than spending time with his 5 grandchildren, and countless honorary grandchildren.  He loved babysitting, tractor rides, and coming to visit them all, and the minute any would see him they would all yell “Grandpa Bob!”

Bob’s greatest joy was spending time with others.  He had welcoming arms for anyone he met and he gave the best hugs.  Each summer for nearly the past 20 years he had hosted a summer pig roast that was attended by hundreds.  Recently, Bob had been working with his son and daughter-in-law, Adam and Jamie, as well as honorary son, Sam Thompson, to build a beautiful cabin nearby on Elm Island Lake.  They had built Bob’s room with plans for him to move there when he felt he could no longer stay full-time at the farm.  Watching the cabin be built over the past year, with a ceiling of White Ash boards milled from logs taken behind the barn at the farm, brought him to tears when he saw it.  It had been a huge source of joy for him.

One of the many messages we have received described Bob as their favorite human being, which perhaps describes him best.   Bob was the most humble, selfless, caring, loving, kindest man, he will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. . 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Adeline; brother-in-law, Darrel; and second wife, Lamoine.  Bob is survived by children: William (Kellie), Adam (Jamie), and Angelique (Calvin); grandchildren: Hunter, Courtney, Weston, Bryce, and Emma; sisters: Joanne and Vicki (Charlie); 3 nieces, 1 nephew;  first wife, Margaret; and many unofficial grandchildren who knew him as Grandpa Bob; and many other special relatives and friends.

 A Celebration of Life will be 12:00pm – Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Malmo.  For those who unable to attend the service or would like additional time to honor Robert

Visitations will be 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, April 21 at the church and will continue Saturday 10:30 to 12:00pm.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Aitkin.  Go to www.srtfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence.

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