Robert "Bob" John Wayne, 81, Rolla, died Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at the Rolette Community Care Center, Rolette.
Bob was born on Dec. 28, 1929, to Fred and Mildred (Widmeyer) Wayne, in Rolla. He was raised and educated in Rolla, graduating from high school in 1948. He attended college for a short period of time at North Dakota State University in Fargo, then deciding to instead to go to Alaska.
Bob married Shirley Hemming on Oct. 14, 1951, at her parents' farm, near Perth. They had four daughters. On Jan. 17, 1952, Bob entered the U.S. Marine Corps, with basic training in San Diego, Calif. After basic training they moved to Jacksonville, N.C. Bob was honorably discharged, returned to Rolla, and farmed with his father.
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Bob continued his education at NDSU while raising his family. He graduated with honors, on May 20, 1962, with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture.
Bob was a Rolla businessman and farmer. His passions included non-fiction books, John Wayne movies, politics and unsolved mysteries of nature. He was extremely proud of his family. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and American Legion. He served on the Rolla School Board.
During the past four years at the Rolette Community Care Center, he gave nicknames to staff, and they had many stories to tell about him.
Bob is survived by: his daughters, Cindy (Bill) Mickelson, Lake Upsilon, St. John, Joey (Steve) Clemenson, West Fargo, Becky (Steve) Juntunen, Devils Lake, and Polly Davis, Litchfield Park, Ariz. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren: Lindsay (Bret) McCloud and their children, Cade, Ian and Ben; Haley (Mike) Berg and their children Grant and Blake; Bekka (Justin) Dahl and their children Connor and Braden; Chad (Brandi) Juntunen and their children Parker, Aiden and Savannah; Shane (Dana) Juntunen and their children Noah, Brody, and Reid; Colby (Ilea) Juntunen; Jason Davis and his children Kaysha and Jaxon; Liisa (Dale) Pawlak and their children Ella and Ethan; Wynne Davis; Jill Davis and her children Kohl, Kamden and Kale; Jared (Cara) Davis; Tenneil Juntunen; Ryan Mickelson; Chris (Trevell) Mickelson and their children Niklas and William.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; grandsons, Brandt Juntunen and Jason Clemenson; son-in-law, Curt Juntunen; his parents; brother, Pete; and sister, Annabelle.
Funeral services: will be Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. in the United Methodist Church, Rolla, with Pastor Rick Craig officiating.
Burial will follow at the Rolla City Cemetery, Rolla.
Visitation will be Monday, Nov. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at Elick Funeral Home, Rolla.