Robert Kemper

Robert W. "Bob" Kemper, age 67 of Melrose, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Melrose with military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Melrose Veterans Honor Guard will pray at 5 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Robert Walter Kemper was born February 24, 1950 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard "Ben" and Leona (Boeckermann) Kemper. Bob was a medic during Vietnam and was honorably discharged on November 23, 1970. On November 3, 1973 he was united in marriage to Nancy Athmann at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Bob started driving milk truck for his brother, Bill, until 1980 when he started his own over the road trucking business. Due to his illness, Bob retired in 2010.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050, and the American Legion Post 101. Bob enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and NASCAR races. Bob loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He would read every page of the newspaper and enjoyed watching and feeding the birds and squirrels.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Kemper of Melrose; children, Chad (Carrie) Kemper of Blaine and Kristy (Aaron) Nelson of Sartell; grandchildren, Kimberly, Trey, Ashley, and Gemma; great-grandson, Jace; brothers, William "Bill" (Mary) Kemper of Melrose and Jeff (Linda) Kemper of Big Birch Lake; sister, Kaye Fuchs of Melrose; sisters-in-law, Jane Vogel of St. Cloud and Betsy (Wayne) Tsukamoto of San Diego, California; and brother-in-law, Vern (Diane) Athmann of Sauk Centre.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Leona Kemper; and Goddaughter, Lynn Fuchs Johnson.

Serving as casket bearers will be Brian Kemper, Patrick Kemper, Eric Fuchs, Jay Vogel, Kevin Athmann, and Kari Thompson. Cross bearers will be Kimberly Nelson and Trey Nelson and scripture bearer will be Ashley Nelson.