Robert Grant Jamieson was born to Grant and Irene Jamieson on November 23, 1933, a little brother to big sister Marjorie. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from the Lutheran Bible Institute and Augsburg College without debt! This was because he always had a job, starting with delivering groceries in his little red wagon when in grade school.
In 1957 Robert married Marjorie Coltvet after both finished college and they had four children; Rebecca, Roberta, Miriam and Matthew; the last two born in Papua New Guinea. He graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and he, his wife, and two children, one just 6 weeks old, left to be missionaries in Papua New Guinea.
In Papua New Guinea the first six years were spent with stone aged people; he climbed mountains with pastors and evangelists, visited congregations and schools, established new congregations, taught evangelists, helped with translating the Bible into the local tribal language (PNG has over 780 distinct languages because of the mountainous terrain) and helped establish Bible schools.
Robert’s next parish was in Mt. Hagen, a melting pot for people from all over the country. While this ministry was more like serving a traditional parish, his ministry evolved in a different cultural setting which often involved men sitting within a group around a fire, a traditional meeting place. He was also involved in a prison ministry. Part of his call was to supervise other missionaries in the greater area. He tutored and helped a New Guinean pastor become the bishop in that area.
His final work in Papua New Guinea was with an ecumenical organization, The Melanesian Institute. The Melanesian Institute (MI) is an ecumenical, research, teaching and publishing institute designed to help churches, government and other organizations speak more clearly to the needs of the people in Melanesia. The Melanesian Institute staff have the experience of living in Melanesia as well as qualifications in areas such as anthropology, sociology and theology. MI's research focuses on topics of pastoral and social concerns to people in Melanesia and Robert served as the editor of the organization's periodicals. It was a very interesting and fascinating experience for him and his family to live and work within an ecumenical construct.
After 16 years in Papua New Guinea, Bob attended the University of Minnesota, receiving a Master’s degree in pastoral care counseling and becoming a chaplain at St. Mary's/Fairview hospitals. As a part of his call there he trained clinical pastoral education interns. Robert retired in 1998. After retirement he continued to serve by volunteering at St. Anthony Park Lutheran in different capacities, volunteering with the MS Society and working within the Emotions Anonymous organization. He and his wife also went to Slovakia for a year where they taught theology and English to high school students.
In Robert’s later years he suffered from Parkinson’s disease. Even through his disease he saw a call to witness.
Robert is preceded in death by his father and mother, Grant and Irene Jamieson, his sister Marjorie Rodberg and husband Vernon Rodberg.
Robert is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marjorie Coltvet Jamieson; daughter Rebecca KenKnight (Dale), daughter Roberta Mathsen (Luther), daughter Miriam Sickler (Michael), son Matthew Jamieson (Michele). Grandchildren Jonathan KenKnight (Christina), Megan Grzesiak (Bradley), Kjersten Mathsen, Kaia Grant (Eric), Bettina Sickler, Christian Sickler, Rylee Maple (Riley), Benjamin Jamieson, Zachary Webster, Emma Webster, Margaret Webster. Also survived by five great grandchildren: Connor and Ian KenKnight, Grace and Hattie Grant and in-utero Baby Grzesiak. Twenty nieces and nephews.
Please direct memorials to St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in memory of Robert Jamieson.
Sunset and Kapala-Glodek Funeral Home 612-789-3596
www.SunsetFuneralServices.com
