ForeverMissed
Large image

Robert Sundberg, "Bob," passed away suddenly the morning of May 24th, 2019. He had just finished up his usual run with his wife, Beth. 

We are stunned and miss him horribly. 


Robert Lewis Sundberg

August 26th, 1949 – May 24th, 2019

Words can not describe our loss. Bob passed away May 24th 2019, after a run with his wife, Beth, at the cabin. This was a sudden and entirely unexpected departure from life.

Bob lived with joie de vivre, tenacity and unshakable faith in his family.

We put together a word cloud that likely needs no explanation:

Shakespeare and Tolkien, Kenneth Grahame,

coffee barista, auto mechanic, beekeeper,

cross country road tripper/mover,

breaker of things, and fixer upper even better of same things.

Master of multiple “sonuvabitch” jobs [Ask us about the sunovabitch rating system…it’s great].

Hot sauce connoisseur, teacher, granddad-dog snuggler,

patient large-mouth bass whisperer, head chef and sous chef, editor.

Small and large appliance repairman,

financial guru, roof ice chipper. Tomato farmer.

HVAC, variable-speed drive, and thermostat elocutionist.

Outgoing and approachable volunteer task-master. Chief soigneur, ski race cheer team.

Dapper. Supportive. Dedicated sweetheart.

Bob was the ultimate appreciator: of his wife’s laughter, a fire in the fireplace, roast or stew cooking, a hike in the woods or a project to work on. He was up for anything, and shared his life, time and experience with an inviting mix of nostalgia and history. Clever, curious and tenacious, he never gave up on any project…be it the ultimate dry-rub rib recipe or a gadget that needed an attitude adjustment/love. He made everyone around him feel important, valued, and heard. He was such a valued partner, amazing husband and father. He tried his damndest in any and every relationship.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Beth, daughters and sons-in-law, Laurel and Joe, and Ali and Lincoln. His sister-in-law Annie and nephew John (along with Erika and their son Jasper) hold on to his memory in Bemidji and niece Leann carries him in southern Oregon. His siblings, Carrie (and Colin), Carl (along with Kou, Sho, Naomi, and Yukino) and Steve also survive him, scattered across the US and internationally.

And his cat, Cricket, who has no understanding why her main zoom groomer has left her. There is also a bastard of a Suzuki motorcycle that hasn’t run since … a previous century.

We laugh in his honor from the highest mountains of Utah to the lanais of Maui, across the Pacific in Japan and in the stark desert of Arizona. We hold our love and our lapdogs and lapcats for him in Ashland, Oregon. And we paddle into the sunset across the lakes of Minnesota in perpetual memory.

Per his wishes, we will not be having a funeral or memorial service; please add a memory or celebration message to his memorial page:

bobsundberg.forevermissed.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following organizations Bob held in high regard, or to an organization of your choice that you feel celebrates his life:

Three Rivers Park District: https://www.threeriversparks.org/page/donations

University of Minnesota Bee Lab: https://www.beelab.umn.edu/home/giving

Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota: https://www.bgcmn.org/donate-online/

Freshwater Society: https://freshwater.org/donate/

October 4, 2019
October 4, 2019
Truly one of the kindest, most passionate persons I have had the honor to know in this or any other industry. Bob reminded me of Dave Rifkin another one we lost way to soon. They both had the ability to make you want to be better, give back more and laugh often. God Bless
July 2, 2019
July 2, 2019
I send my thoughts and condolences to Beth and the family. I was on the Chelsea Board for several years and got to know both Beth and Bob. Bob was such a kind and decent person and he so obviously loved his wife and children above everything else. It is such a tragic loss and a terrible shock to those who knew him. May he rest in peace.
June 8, 2019
June 8, 2019
We met Bob at St. Olaf College a little over 50 years ago. It is a friendship that endured and strengthened over those many years. Bob met and married the love of his life, Beth, and she become a vital part of our special friendship. Bob was playful, thoughtful, interested in so much and always interesting. He was a committed and loyal friend. Even though we have not lived in Minnesota for many yeas, our paths would cross from time to time and our friendship remained vibrant and fresh. For the past twenty years a group of us (Bob&Beth Sundberg, Ron&Cheryl Eckstam, Rich Maier and the Kirchers) met once a year for breakfast at the Good Earth Cafe to share not only our friendship that dates back to our Ole days, but also to find joy in being together and loving each other as we share our lives. As we struggle with losing Bob, our thoughts and love go out to Beth who knew best of all the dear and wonderful man, Bob Sundberg.
Jim and Sara Kircher
June 5, 2019
June 5, 2019
Ten days have passed and I still have not found the words to express how much he meant to me. So, I’m just going to start writing. Clearly, there is a Bob Sudberg-shaped hole in my soul that will not be filled. The shock and sting of hearing the news will diminish over time, but the hole will be there just the same.

I’ve know Bob for 30 years and it has been my pleasure to interact with him in many different roles and capacities over those decades.

We had just about every kind of business relationship imaginable. Initially, I was his customer—we worked side-by-side on utility funded programs with Bob representing Honeywell. We served with another dozen subject-matter experts as advisors to a government-funded research project. I worked for Bob as a consultant. After he retired from Honeywell, I hired Bob as a consultant on a major HVAC efficiency initiative that had been directed by the California Public Utilities Commission and funded by the California investor-owned utilities.

Over that span of time, he proved to be knowledgeable, adept, funny, honest, unafraid to express his opinion, willing to take on challenges no one had ever faced before, passionate about anything in which he was involved, a grateful cancer survivor, a loving husband, a proud dad, and a Hawaii lover (something we shared). In addition, he was an outdoorsman, handy around the house, and a proud Minnesotan (three things we didn’t share). Above all, Bob was fiercely loyal to family, friends, and colleagues.

When it comes right down to it, I loved Bob. Love isn’t a verb frequently employed by business buddies to describe their relationships, but I can’t think of a better term to explain how I feel about my dear friend.
June 5, 2019
June 5, 2019
What a shock to learn of Bob's totally unexpected passing!  Our summers on Lake Minnetonka will never be the same. His ever-present smile and sharp wit, his love of life and complicated things, his sense of humor and story-telling, his home-made pizza making, secret recipes, and specialty craft beers, and most of all his big heart and warm friendship will be missed forever.  But never forgotten...Godspeed good friend.
May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019
Bob - The world was better with you in it. I miss you, your terrific smile, and your passion.
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Another great man gone too soon. Bob always had a big smile and a story to share. I learned so much from him during my marketing days. You are missed. RIP Bob.
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Bobby was my buddy...My soul is sad and I have no words.
Love you Beth...Love you "Uncle Bob".
May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Rest in peace my friend. You were always there when I needed a sympathic ear or huge grin or information on the HVAC industry. You always had it in a pile somewhere! I missed working with you when you retired but always thought of you and Beth enjoying life! You are missed.
May 27, 2019
May 27, 2019
Always a smile on your face. A kind word. You will be missed by all who knew you. But the memories you left behind will remain. Good Bless and rest in peace.

Leave a Tribute

Light a Candle
Lay a Flower
Leave a Note
 
Recent Tributes
October 4, 2019
October 4, 2019
Truly one of the kindest, most passionate persons I have had the honor to know in this or any other industry. Bob reminded me of Dave Rifkin another one we lost way to soon. They both had the ability to make you want to be better, give back more and laugh often. God Bless
July 2, 2019
July 2, 2019
I send my thoughts and condolences to Beth and the family. I was on the Chelsea Board for several years and got to know both Beth and Bob. Bob was such a kind and decent person and he so obviously loved his wife and children above everything else. It is such a tragic loss and a terrible shock to those who knew him. May he rest in peace.
June 8, 2019
June 8, 2019
We met Bob at St. Olaf College a little over 50 years ago. It is a friendship that endured and strengthened over those many years. Bob met and married the love of his life, Beth, and she become a vital part of our special friendship. Bob was playful, thoughtful, interested in so much and always interesting. He was a committed and loyal friend. Even though we have not lived in Minnesota for many yeas, our paths would cross from time to time and our friendship remained vibrant and fresh. For the past twenty years a group of us (Bob&Beth Sundberg, Ron&Cheryl Eckstam, Rich Maier and the Kirchers) met once a year for breakfast at the Good Earth Cafe to share not only our friendship that dates back to our Ole days, but also to find joy in being together and loving each other as we share our lives. As we struggle with losing Bob, our thoughts and love go out to Beth who knew best of all the dear and wonderful man, Bob Sundberg.
Jim and Sara Kircher
Recent stories
May 26, 2019

Another project Bob and I took on. I so enjoyed this day.

May 26, 2019

Bob and Beth are our cabin neighbors. This photo was taken in the bay on South Long Lake. We had a great day of bass fishing. I am glad to have this and many memories (all good ones) with Bob.

Invite others to Bob's website:

Invite by email

Post to your timeline