ImageRobert G. Hengelfelt
1936-2012

Robert Gerald Hengelfelt  was born to Lilly and Gerald Hengelfelt.  He and his younger brother, Don, grew up moving to a new home almost every year because their dad worked as a mail sorter on the railroad.  Bob was graduated from the Patrick Henry high school, in Minneapolis.  He later attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and, most importantly, where he met Susan, who became his wife.  They were married almost 52 years ago, on July 2, have 1960.  Together they raised a wonderful family of four children.  Bob and his entire family have been deeply committed to nature. 

They were very supportive of YMCA Camps du Nord, a family camp, and Widjiwagan, a wilderness camp for young people, both on Burntside Lake near Ely, Minnesota.  Both camps benefitted greatly from Bob’s service to them, including Board Chairmanship of both camp boards.  Bob and Sue’s interest in the camps led them, along with other friends, to buy a former resort, also on Burntside Lake, which they converted to a condominium of five cabins.  In every season Bob spent a lot of time up north, at the cabin.

About twelve years ago, Bob was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia, and at that time he was given only six months to live.  Bob was unwilling to accept that prediction, o he set about finding some treatment that would help.  He finally found one in Oregon – a long ways to travel for an expensive medication that was developed by a doctor from St. Paul.  Because of this Bob won 12 good years with his family and friends, and extended his career as a financial advisor.  A truly remarkable contribution by Bob and Sue were the twice a year garage sales for the benefit of Camps Du Nord and Widji.  They hosted them for thirty years on their front lawn and in their garage over a week long period each time.  The Widji Ys Men’s Club, as they were known at the time, was looking for a new fund raising program.  The wreath making project they had been doing was time consuming and made little money.  The garage sales were the solution and Bob and Sue’s home on busy County Road B near Lexington in Roseville was the answer.  Bob would spend time twice a year trying to clear out his garage and yard so that they could become the show floor for the sales.  Unfortunately, he was often unsuccessful at preventing the energetic sales staff from selling his tools and his family bikes.

Among his many interests, Bob was an avid cross country skier, dog lover, and car hound.  For years we, along with Bob and Sue and other couples stayed a Camp du Nord on winter weekends and snowshoed, later skied, in the area.  Most weekends, the temperatures were extremely cold and Bob was always up front getting the cars going on Sunday when we had to leave.  I always thought that the snowshoe business was just an excuse for the partying that was the real focus of attention après snowshoe.  On one occasion, several of us, including Bob, skied the Oly Trail, which is an up and down cross country trail through the woods.  Bob made the mistake of not noticing a large tree in the middle of the trail at the bottom of one of these hills and he went face first into it.  I was a ways ahead and when he returned I thought he had been in a boxing match with Rocky Marciano.  As bad as that was, he was his usual good spirited person and he shrugged it off though he took good natured ribbing about that the rest of his life.

Bob was a loyal Saint Paul Rotarian and participated in a wide range of projects, where he was a willing worker.  Bob was particularly interested in the international activity since he and Sue traveled extensively in Russia, especially in the part that became Belarus, and they had many friends from that part of the world.  Bob was dedicated to his family of Sue, their children Carole, Bob Jr., Jennifer, and Tom, their spouses, and their six beautiful grandchildren.  He was a good friend and is already sorely missed.

We request that this memorial resolution be spread on the minutes of the Rotary Club of Saint Paul, and that a copy be sent to his family members.

Respectfully submitted,

Blake Davis, Alan Ruvelson, Rolf Thompson
Long Time Friends of Bob Hengelfelt