Robert "Bob" Ille

Robert “Bob” Ille, 88, of Stewartville,MN passed away peacefully on Tuesday (October 17, 2023)  at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, where he had been a resident for one day.

Robert Douglas Ille was born July 18, 1935 in Austin,MN to Guy and Adeline(Betlach) Ille. He grew up in Blooming Prairie, where he attended school, and with his Dad and brother, worked on the family farm and cut wood for sale in town. He graduated from Blooming Prairie HS in 1953 and then attended Minnesota School of Business and Dunwoody Institute receiving an Associates Degree in Business. Robert was married on June 6, 1957 at the First Lutheran Church in  Blooming Prairie to Roberta  Ann  Donda. Bob, as he liked to be called, and Bert lived in 4 towns after their marriage. Their 1st house was an old school house that they remodeled and where they began raising their 3 children. They loved living in Blooming Prairie. Bob and his brother Harvey owned the Hardware Hank Store in Blooming Prairie and continued to manage the Ille Family Farm.  In 1976 Bob and Roberta became partners and bought  the Hardware Hank Store in Chatfield. They had a beautiful home there and their 3 daughters also got to work at the store - the girls  "loved" dusting and eating the popcorn. In 1996 they decided to retire and moved to a cabin on the Mississippi River in Wabasha,MN where they enjoyed boating and fishing. They began spending their winters in Mission,TX where they made many friends playing cards and enjoyed swimming and shopping trips to Mexico. Bob and Bert had a wonderful life together and couldn't ask for anything more!       

Bob was a past member of First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prarie and the Chatfield Lutheran Church . After moving to Stewartville in 2017 to live near their daughters,  they currently attended services at Zion Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Chatfield Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Jaycees. Bob and Bert were members of the Center for Active Adults in Stewartville where they enjoyed going to lunch, playing cards and being with many new friends. He enjoyed  fishing, playing cards, golfing and following the Vikes.  Bob loved time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bob is survived by his wife of 65 years – Roberta and 3 daughters – Laura(David) Pettey of Stewartville; Nancy(Patrick) Loew of Inver Grove Heights,MN and Sherri(Keith) Jorgensen of Stewartville; 7 grandchildren -  Nicholas(Kera) Pettey, Adam Pettey, Brady(Yuliia) Loew, Joshua(Kayla) Loew, Annabelle Jorgensen,Jack Jorgensen and Oscar Jorgensen; 6 great grandchildren – Hayden Pettey, Pablo Garcia, Zoe Garcia, Ari Backus, Drake Backus and Ashton Pettey;  sister-in-law - Kathy Donda and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Harvey and his wife  - Patricia.

The memorial service for Bob will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday(October 25, 2023) at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Tim Bowman officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville. A time of visitation for family and friends will be held 1 hr. prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Griffin Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Memories and condolences of Bob are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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