Hailey and Logan's Great Uncle Robert, my mother's brother, passed away this past weekend after a battle with cancer. The funeral service was held today in Fairmont, Minnesota. The text from the mini biography of my uncle that appeared on the back of the funeral program is at the end of this post.
This was our longest car ride yet with Hailey and Logan and it went pretty well. We stopped at the Blue Earth McDonald's on the way down to get them fed and diapered before arriving at the church.
On the way home we drove straight through. Logan started screaming near Lakeville but by the time we considered pulling over he had worn himself out and gone back to sleep.
Robert Leon Mensch, son of Herbert and Dorothy (Leeman) was born on June 18, 1937, in Mankato, MN. At that time, his parents resided in Nashville Township. They moved to the North Star Farm in Fraser Township in 1941 where Robert lived the remainder of his childhood. Robert attended District 54 Country School for four years. He graduated from Welcome High School in 1955 and Iowa State University in 1959 with a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering. Robert received his Master's Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1962. Robert also served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve (Corps of Engineers).
On August 5, 1960, Robert was united in marriage to Jane Marie Gilmore in Fairmont, MN. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Karen and Susan. Robert and Jane shared nearly 50 years together.
Robert was employed by the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University as an instructor from 1962 to 1968, doing teaching and research. He and Jane then moved to Fairmont, MN where he established Mensch Engineering, which catered to feedlot design and construction. He was the first full-time self-employed consulting agricultural engineer in Minnesota for many years.
In 1977 he accepted a position as Farm Structures Specialist with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for a pig farm redevelopment project in Singapore. He returned to Mensch Engineering in 1984. Since 1990 most of his work was related to feedlots throughout Minnesota, helping hundreds of farmers prepare plans for feedlot permits from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. He served on several MPCA advisory committees.
Robert had a passion for teaching, whether in the classroom, one-on-one with clients or mentoring younger consulting engineers. He was a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for 50 years and a licensed professional engineer for 42 years. As a volunteer, Robert did engineering for Heritage Acres, Martin County Fair and the Red Rock Center. He was on the Board of Supervisors of the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District from 1973 until 1977.
Robert was a member, deacon and treasurer of Fairmont Baptist Church for many years. His favorite hymn was "Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow."
Robert passed away Friday evening, July 16, 2010 at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, MN at the age of seventy-three years and twenty-eight days.
Left to cherish his memory include his wife, Jane Marie Mensch of Fairmont; daughters, Karen (Aldo) Senne of Welcome, Susan Mensch of Fairmont; granddaughters, Christina Senne of Brainerd, Melinda Senne of Welcome and her fiance, Joe Collins of Prior Lake; sister, Rachel (Ken) Ellingson of Vadnais Heights; brother-in-law, John Gilmore of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and nephews, Jeffrey (Christine) Ellingson of St. Paul and Ericlee (Dorina) Gilmore of Fresno, California. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Dorothy Mensch.
One Year Ago - Feeding Schedule
