Robert “Bob” Solien was born August 23, 1931, on the family farm in Syre, Minnesota (near Twin Valley), to parents Otto and Mabel (Ellefson) Solien. He had four siblings: Vernon, Walton, Lorraine, and Yvonne.
Bob was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith and attended grades 1-7 in the one-room school house located on the family farm, after which he attended Twin Valley High School where he lettered in all sports and in band. He was a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the basketball team. Bob worked on the family farm on weekends and summers to be able to attend college, and was able to graduate from North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University) with a degree in mechanical engineering and was an ROTC commissioned 2nd Lt. in The United States Air Force.
In 1955, Bob entered active duty in the Air Force, completing navigation training at Ellington AFB in Houston, Tx. While in Houston, he would meet and eventually marry his wife, Patricia Ann (Galloway). They were married for 35 years and had four children: Mitchell, Craig, Kelly, and Lynda.
Bob flew as a navigator stateside and overseas for 13 years in RC121 and C130, accumulating over 7,000 hours of flying time, and worked on the Air Force Titan III Program. In 1968, Bob left active duty, but remained in active Air Force Reserves. Bob moved his family to Merritt Island, Florida and began working for NASA on the Apollo (moon) program and on the shuttle program as a mechanical payload engineer. Eventually he retired from NASA and The Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. Bob was a proud Veteran of the Airforce, commonly sporting his Retired USAF Veteran Hat and displaying USAF memorabilia around the house.
Bob grew up hunting for pheasants and ducks, so it was a natural transition into competitive Skeet Shooting (clay targets) as an adult. He was a life time member in The National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA), where he shot over 90,000 registered targets and became a well-known and respected master referee. Bob worked numerous local, state, and world shoots to which he loved to travel to in his motor home. He was a member of the Spaceport Gun Club in Merritt Island, and was the President for 10 years. Bob was also a member of the Patrick Air Force Base Gun Club and served as their president for 8 years. In 1994, Bob was inducted into the Florida Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame for his excellent shooting and refereeing abilities. In 1996, he was elected World Referee of the year, and was later inducted into the NSSA Referee Hall of Fame in 2021.
Bob was an active member of the Elks Lodge 1532 in Cocoa, Moose Lodge in Merritt Island, the American Legion 22 in Cocoa, and the Officers Club at Patrick Air Force Base. He was honored with lifetime memberships with NSSA (skeet shooting), Air Force Navigators Observers Association, and the Elks Lodge. Bob loved playing golf, cribbage, pinochle, whist, and was a formidable bridge and poker player. Bob also loved baseball, as a fan of the St Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins, and coaching baseball and softball for his children’s teams growing up, winning multiple championships.
Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife of 35 years Patricia Ann (Galloway) Solien, their son Mitchell Cameron Solien, brothers Vernon and Walton Solien, and sisters Lorraine Krenelka and Yvonne Solien. He was an amazing father and is survived by his children: Craig Richard Solien, Kelly Ann Cunningham, and Lynda Solien-Wolfe. He was a proud and loving grandfather of three grandchildren: Kyndal Moran Solien, Brian Joseph Cunningham Jr, and Colton Mitchell Wolfe.
Bob lived a great and meaningful life and made a lasting impression on everyone he met! He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the many organizations of which he was a member!
Visitation for Bob will be held Friday August 19, 2022 from 10:00am to 11:00am, at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home, 1360 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, Florida 32953. The funeral service at Wylie-Baxley will follow at 11:00am, with a reception at 12:00pm. Following the funeral service, Bob will be laid to rest with a military service at 2:15pm at The Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Highway 1, Mims, Florida 32754.
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