He was born on June 20, 1924, in Trego, Wisconsin, to Arne and Olga Bergum. In 1926 the family moved to Duluth where he attended the Duluth Public schools, graduating from Duluth Central in 1943. After high school he enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he attended Missouri State College and graduated as an Army bomber pilot from Brooks Field, Texas, and served as a pilot for the balance of WWII. Upon discharge he returned to Duluth where he started Sky Harbor Seaplane Base on Park Point where he served as President of the Sportsman Airways Flight School and Charter Service until it closed. In 1947 he married Shirley Jeanne Funnell. Bob was employed by Sterling Motors for 10 years, then joined Stephenson Realty where he was Vice President and partner until his retirement in 1992. He was a fighter pilot with the original unit of the Duluth Air National Guard; served on the board of Boy Scouts at First Lutheran Church; was a member of the Greater Duluth Kiwanis Club, Duluth Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and Trinity Lutheran Church.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, sister Dagny Kellam and step grandson Ben Johnson.
He is survived by his devoted wife Shirley of 63 years; three sons, Scott (Kathy), John (Jean), and Tom (LaDonna) all of Duluth; eight grandchildren, Kevin (Stephanie), Jeffrey (Michelle), Kari (Scott) Prudhomme, Jason (Laurel), Jodi (Jason) Grochowski, Jennifer, Michael (Ashley), and Christine, three step grandchildren, Bryan and Kevin Johnson, Sarah (Troy) Lamphier; and 15 great grandchildren.
Bob really enjoyed his life at their home on Little Alden Lake. He was extremely proud of his three sons and their families. An ardent fisherman and hunter, the joy of his life was the annual fishing and hunting trips in Canada with two generations of “his boys”. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Visitation from 11:00 am until the 12:00 noon funeral service Wednesday, June 1st at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E. 8th Street. Burial will be in Oneota Cemetery. The family requests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church. Please leave a memory of Bob or words of support for the family at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com Arrangements by the Bell Brothers Funeral Home, 601 N. 56th Ave. W.
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