Obituary of Robert Ellsworth Barduson

Robert (Bob) was born on February 9, 1931, on the family farm near the “Twin Cities of the West” Big Bend/Hagen, Minnesota. Growing up, he was an active member of 4-H and enjoyed cattle judging. He loved attending the National 4-H Congress in Chicago. For decades the family regularly exhibited and attended the Minnesota State Fair. Bob graduated from Appleton High School in 1948 and enrolled at the U of M to study agronomy. He met his future wife, Angeline Freitag, at the campus 1952 Leap Day Dance and she was “pinned” exactly one year later in 1953. They married in June of that year. Bob served in the Army from 1954 to 1956 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Prior to discharge, he received a job offer from the Hamm’s Brewery on the East Side of St. Paul to work in the Grain Elevator. For the next 37 years, Bob worked many long hours at the “Land of Sky Blue Waters” to ensure the malt his team produced made Hamm’s the best beer it could be – thus earning the nickname “Barley Bob.” He volunteered at the YMCA Christmas tree lot, at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran (GA) Church, and the Phalen Park 4-H Club. He was very active in the Skylanders Club. He spent most winters building and maintaining the family’s backyard rink so his kids and friends could play and hone their hockey skills long into the night. He also helped out on the family farm when needed. Bob and Angie hosted six foreign exchange students from Norway, Finland, Austria, New Zealand, and Argentina. The family took several Clark Griswold-type vacations so the foreign exchange students could visit and experience all corners of the United States. In retirement he continued to enjoy travelling, especially to see family and friends. He also spent more time on the golf course, joining the GA Men’s League at Phalen. He loved RAMS meetings, any Hamm’s reunions, and helping with the Barduson Open. He would go to any grandkid, niece, or nephew sporting event or activity. He was also a proud MN Gopher football and hockey season ticket holder for nearly 30 years and MN Twins for over 10 years. Sadly, “last call” for “Barley Bob” was July 11, 2024, at age 93. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Angie, son Brian, parents Thideman and Hattie, and siblings Odell, Harry, and Marie. He is survived by and will be deeply missed by children Diann (Robert) Thornton, Mari (Steve) Drake, and Todd (Glory) Barduson; grandchildren Tori, Tim, and Ted Drake; Dan (Michelle), Zach (Avery), and Josh (Trista) Dennison; great-grandchildren Gavyn, Mikayla, Norah, Giana, Alexis, Grace, and Ginger. Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Gustavus Adolphus Church, 1669 Arcade Street, St. Paul, MN. Visitation from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Memorial service at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. Burial with military honors at 2:15 p.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and trees, memorials are preferred to Big Bend Lutheran Church or Gustavus Adolphus.