Robert Melvin Antrobus, Sr., the son of Olin and Bertha (Koehler) Antrobus, was born February 20, 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended school and made his home there until the age of 18 when he moved with his family to Denver, Colorado. 

He met his future wife, Wilma Stringham, in Denver when they were both employed at Montgomery Ward. Bob and Wilma were married March 7, 1954.

Bob had enlisted in the United States Army in February of 1953, and after only seven months of marriage he was deployed to Eta Jima, Japan for a period of 15 months. He served in the army as a construction foreman and after receiving his honorable discharge and the National Defense Service Medal in 1956, he returned home to Denver and met for the first time his 13-month-old son, Robert, Jr.

Over the next few years three more children were born to Bob and Wilma: Dale, Gary, and Donna. They raised their family in Tujunga, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. In 1971 the family moved to Pine City, Minn. and Bob was employed with East Central Electric Association. He worked for ECE until his retirement in the spring of 1994. 

Bob enjoyed living the country life in Minnesota and lived in the areas of Pine City, Milaca and Braham. A lover of animals, at one time or another he acquired every kind of farm animal plus many cats and dogs. 

A family man, he was always loving and supportive of wife, children, grandchildren and extended family members. He was a wealth of information and his children and grandchildren all said he was better than the Encyclopedia Britannica when information was needed for their homework projects. Bob loved music and was poetic enough to write his own lyrics and songs. Bob Jr. was a singer and guitarist and together they made a perfect match. Over a span of several years they wrote, published, and had copyrights to many pieces of music. Following their retirement, Bob and Wilma spent their winters in Davenport, Fla., where they met many new friends.

In September of 2002, Bob and Wilma lost their oldest son, Bob Jr., and six months later Bob was diagnosed with lung cancer. A four-year battle with the disease revealed the depth of his strength, hope, and optimism. He died June 1, 2007 at the Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, Minn., having reached the age of 74 years. He lost the battle, but won the war and is now resting in heaven with his Lord.

Bob is survived by his wife, Wilma of Braham, Minn.; children: Dale & Annie Antrobus, Yankton, SD, Gary & Carolyn Antrobus, Pine City, and Donna & David Loehrer, Princeton, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law: Dorris & Jack Clark, Superior, Neb.; brother and sister-in-law: Richard & Marilyn Antrobus, St. Charles, Mo.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Olin and Bertha Antrobus, and his son, Robert Antrobus, Jr.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at Hustletown Community Church in Hustletown, Minn., with Major Chuck Hendrickson officiating. Pianist for the service was Mrs. Pat Stenmo with music provided by Webster Ford and Melissa Lotz. Casket bearers were Dale Antrobus, Nicholas Antrobus, Gary Antrobus, Lucas Antrobus, Michael Vork and Jeremy Ertz. Interment was at the Hustletown Union Cemetery in Hustletown. Arrangements were entrusted to the Olson Chapel, Funeral & Cremation Service, Rush City, Minn.

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