Robert "Bob" Kirchner

Robert H. “Bob” Kirchner, age 96 of Elrosa and formerly of Waite Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Greg Paffel officiating. Interment will be at 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Waite Park following the lunch. Military honors will be by the VFW Post 428 of St. Cloud.

Visitation will be from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Thursday at the church. 

Robert Henry Kirchner was born June 18, 1927 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Albert and Elizabeth (Imdieke) Kirchner. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1949 during WWII. On April 18, 1953, he married Margaret Wilmes at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park. From this union, they were blessed with six children. Robert worked with the Burlington Northern Railroad until his retirement in 1991. Margaret passed away on May 16, 1993. Robert married Edna Molitor on October 30, 1998. 

Robert enjoyed travelling to Arizona for the winter, hunting and fishing. He was a former member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park, a current member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE), Waite Park American Legion Post 428, and VFW Post 4847 of St. Cloud.

Survivors include his wife, Edna Kirchner; children, Rick (Char) Kirchner, Debbie (Ernie) Hengel, Cindy (Pete) Daniel, Diana (Barry) Beckers, Joe (Laura) Kirchner, and Lori (Don) Tomsche; step-children, Marlene (Mark) Spliethoff, Alvin (Kathi) Molitor, Linda (Ron) Benoit, Eugene Molitor, and Kim (Kym Gully) Stummer; 15 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 12 step-grandchildren, and five step great-grandchildren; sister, Alice Thelen; and brother Al Kirchner.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Kirchner; parents; great-granddaughter, Loreha Tomsche; step-granddaughter, Ashley Spliethoff; brothers, Jim and Steve; and sister, Millie. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.