Robert Willson

ROBERT WILLIAM WILLSON

Mankato, Minn.

Mankato resident Robert "Bob" William Willson, 89, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, from heart failure at Ecumen Pathstone Living in Mankato, Minn.

Bob was born Oct. 31, 1927, to William and Elizabeth (Nemec) Willson in Burlington, Iowa. At age 4, the family moved to Indianapolis, and at age 11, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Instead of a traditional obituary, Bob wanted to share some interesting facts about his life

He played the drums with the Cedar Rapids Drum and Bugle Corps for three years and traveled with the band to California and Pennsylvania.

He served in both the Navy and the Army. He joined the Navy in 1945 and was stationed in San Diego. In 1953, he was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan.

He attended eight different colleges. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. degree in mathematics in 1950. He earned his master's degree in math education at the University of Northern Iowa in 1957.

Bob met the love of his life, Barbara Jean Mitchell, on a city bus when they were both students at UNI. They had to change the date of their wedding because Bob was in a track meet. They were happily married for 61 years, and had four children, seven grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren, one great-grandchild and one stepgreat-grandchild.

In the spring of 1949, Bob competed in the Naperville Relays Indoor Meet. He had to run eight heats to make the finals. He took second place in the 60-yard high hurdles and third place in the 60-yard low hurdles.

In the '60s, Bob worked on some of the first computers used in the business world at Salt River Project in Tempe, Ariz. The computer took up a whole room. He taught himself how to write computer programs for civil and electrical engineers during his job as a senior programmer.

Bob started teaching computer science classes at Minnesota State University-Mankato in 1969. He was one of three people in the department. He introduced graphics and robotics, and taught nine different computer languages. He retired in 1993.

During his life he saw six presidents in person FDR, Hoover, Eisenhower, Nixon, JFK and Johnson.

He shook hands with Eddie Rickenbacker, an American fighter Ace in World War I who had 26 aerial victories. Rickenbacker also was left-handed.

Bob was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a kind and generous man who touched the lives of everyone he met. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He also liked to solve puzzles and read articles about the latest medical and scientific breakthrough. He was living independently in his own home until shortly before his death.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Mike Suchan; granddaughter, Angela Claxton; wife, Barbara; and sister, Betty Suchan.

He is survived by his children, Debra Claxton, Scott (Annette) Willson, Gregory (Nicole) Willson and Linda (Bruce) Anderson; grandchildren, Sonja, Brian (Mary), Brett, Shawn, Cole and Rachel; stepgrandchildren, Horst "Eddie," Eric (Leslie) and Robbie (Elise); and great-granddaughter, Emily.

A private funeral service is planned.