Hugo "Bob" Lubenow

Funeral services for Hugo Robert “Bob” Lubenow of Appleton, Minnesota, will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morris, MN with Reverend Donald Main officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 4 to 7:00 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, MN, and for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Burial will take place on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at the Chokio Lutheran Cemetery in Chokio, MN.

Hugo Robert “Bob” Lubenow, son of Hugo Sr. and Emily Joy (LaGrange) Lubenow was born on September 17, 1939, in Fairfield Township, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Morris, MN. Bob attended the Morris Area School District. He graduated from Morris High School in 1958. On March 30, 1957, Bob enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard where he served for eight years in the 1^st Battalion, 136^th Infantry. While in the military he qualified as an expert marksman on six occasions and received the Good Conduct Medal and the 5 Year Service Medal. Bob and Pammella “Pam” Kaye Kolling were joined in marriage on Saturday, January 13, 1968, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church by Reverend Roth. The good Reverend Roth waited till after Sunday service the next day to officially retire because marrying Bob and Pam was so very important to him. The new couple would move to rural Alberta and raise their family on their farm for the next 25 years. They then moved to Starbuck, MN for several years and settled in Appleton, MN. While farming stayed in his heart, Bob went on to be a truck driver and worked for Case IH and West-Con.   

Bob’s greatest joy was spending time with his family. He took the kids to church, their band concerts, choir concerts, 4-H meetings, and attended lots of different sporting events they played in. In his off time, Bob loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile, drive his motorcycle, and pull a prank or two but Fret woodworking was his passion. He created beautiful pieces of work shared with family and friends including the Lord’s Prayer and artisanal cathedral clocks that won several awards. A devout Christian, Bob rarely missed a Sunday at church and was the treasurer at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for many years. As a volunteer for Toys for Tots, Bob was the area distributor of toys to rural households in the area and volunteered with other community events. Bob was the American Legion Post 29, Post Commander one year, was a member of The Forty and Eight, and was part of the Tractor Club of Appleton.

Bob passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the Appleton Area Health Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was 84 years old.

Bob is survived by his wife Pam Lubenow; daughters: Cindy Lubenow, April Grothe,  and Jillynn Lubenow; son: DCarr Lubenow; sisters: Jean (Bruce) Bastin, Bertha (Harvey) Asmus, June Harris, and Linda (Mark) Colden; brother: Albert (Vicki) Lubenow; sister-in-laws: Dolly (Ken) Beebe Rausch, Judy Lubenow and DeVonne Kolling;  grandchildren: Syliah, Cody, Adrianna, and Alex; and great-grandchildren: Mia, Elijah, and Emily. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo Sr. and Emily Joy Lubenow; brother: Richard Lubenow; brother-in-laws: Allen Kolling and Dale Beebe and sister-in-law: Karlis Kolling.