Bob Buhl

Robert “Bob” Buhl, a life-long resident of Graceville, MN, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at the age of 95 years, 6 months, and 23 days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held on Monday, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church. Fr. Brian Oestreich will celebrate the Mass and interment will be in Graceville Consolidated Cemetery.

Robert Joseph Buhl was the only child born to Joseph and Louise (Weick) Buhl on October 7, 1927, in Graceville, MN. He grew up on the family farm, two miles west of Graceville and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1946.

On January 8, 1948, Bob was united in marriage with Delores Lesmeister and they were blessed with three adopted children to form their family: Mary Lynn in 1954, Robert Jr. in 1955, and Joseph “Joe” in 1959.

Bob was known for working hard and playing hard. He had his own threshing crew at the age of 16. Playing hard consisted of hunting, trapping, and fishing. When he was 16, Bob bought his mother a set of 12 crystal goblets for Christmas with his trapping money. They remain an unbroken family treasure. Bob hunted almost anything that flew or moved. His many hunting adventures took him to South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and British Columbia. Bob had elk, moose, and many deer horn mountings. He hunted deer and some bear in northern Minnesota for many years. All the meat taken was always processed at the farm with professional equipment. Bob was most proud of taking a bear with a bow.

Fishing trips took him and many members of his family to what was always an annual trip to Cranberry Portage, Manitoba, as soon as the ice melted in the spring, though ice was often broken through to reach Ashdown’s Camp: a 45-mile journey by water. Kodiak and Raspberry Island, AK, were also destinations for several years. Cabins on Big Stone, West Battle, and Ottertail lakes were summer weekend destinations for fishing for 40 years. Bob fished year-round and many people enjoyed the bounty of his catches! Many fish were given to the “Poor Claire Sisters”  as they do not eat meat.

Bob maintained an apple orchard on the farm and after retiring and moving to town in 1992, he continued to have many gardens, wherever he could find bare ground. He began planning, ordering seeds, and starting them indoors very early in the season. There was plenty for others to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Farming was important to Bob all of his life. The Buhl Farm obtained a Centennial Farm Recognition in 1997.

Bob and Delores spent a few winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where he enjoyed walking and going to the flea markets. Going south ended when Bob came down with Guillain Barre Syndrome in the winter of 1996. Bob was a life-long member of Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, as was his father and grandfather before him. Holy Rosary was a fitting church for Bob, as he was born on the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

Surviving Bob are his daughter, Mary (Bruce) Berg; sons: Robert Buhl, Jr., and Joe Buhl; daughter-in-law, Joyce Buhl; grandchildren: Nathan (Emily) Arens, Jon (Chris) Arens, Chad Arens, Paul (Heather) Arens, Laurie Wulff, Robert (Lynae) Buhl, III, Danielle (Joe) McLain, Jacob, Genevieve, and James Buhl; 16 great-grandchildren: Matthew, Megan, Micah, Mason, Sean, Leah, Addyson, Tucker, Emma, Logan, Levi, Brayden, Brody, Baylee, Kayden, Parker; one great-grandson due in September of 2023; and step great-granddaughter, Lilly Mankie.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores; parents, Joe and Louise Buhl; grandparents, John and Mary Buhl; and son-in-law, Kenneth Arens.