Robert "Big Bob" Oesterle

Robert Henry Oesterle "Big Bob" was born March 29, 1945 in Aberdeen, SD, to Betty and Ernst Oesterle and was raised in Bismarck, ND. After graduating from Bismarck Central High School, he went into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Hawaii. Bob volunteered to go to Vietnam where he was a tanker truck driver during the war. When his tour was finished, he drove his motorcycle from the ship in San Francisco back to Aberdeen to live with his Grandma Towne and he worked at Tiffany Laundry.

In 1967, he met Anna Maurine Olson on a blind date. They were inseparable and enjoyed many activities like motorcycling and dancing. They were married on August 25, 1967. In October 1968, their first daughter, Karman, was born and they moved to Streeter, ND, for a short time where Bob worked as an appliance repairman and policeman. Around 1970, Bob and Anna moved to West Fargo, ND, where Bob worked for Falls Mobile Homes as a mobile home transporter and repairman. In 1971, their second daughter, Correnna, was born followed by their third daughter, Holly, in 1973.

Around 1979, Bob decided to strike out on his own as a mobile home repairman and locksmith under the name of B&A Enterprises. Bob incorporated his daughters into his business and they learned many life skills in the process. Bob was in business for himself for many years. Later in life he went to tech school and briefly worked office jobs, including at the VA Hospital. In 2009, Bob developed some health complications which he struggled with off and on, cheating death several times. In October 2017, Bob went to live at Bethany on 42nd, where he passed away on June 29, 2018, at the age of 73.

Big Bob was forever a repairman, able to fix or build nearly anything. He was a "dad" and a friend to so many people. He was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, even total strangers. He was a great storyteller and enjoyed spending time with family, traveling, motorcycling, and going to the movies.

Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anna; daughters, Karman (Red) Steagall, Fresno, CA, Correnna Iverson, Fargo, ND, and Holly (Tim) Jorud, Fargo; sisters, Jan (Dan) Nelsen, Sacremento, CA and Terry Oesterle, Fargo; brother, Loren (Blanca) Oesterle, Azusa, CA; grandchildren, Tony Colvin, Matthew Stockford, Bianca (Dallas) Brewer, Skyler Stewart, and Reilly, Alecia, and Afton Jorud; great-grandchildren, Scarlet and Reba Brewer; nieces, Mary Nelsen and Alexandra Oesterle; nephews, Darren Nelsen and Jason Oesterle.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

His Memorial Service will be Monday, July 9, 2018, at 3:00 PM, in Metropolitan Baptist Church, Fargo.

Burial will be Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead, MN)