Robert Kriesel Obituary

Robert Leo Kriesel, 72, passed away surrounded by family at his beloved home after a courageous battle against cancer on November 27, 2024.

Bob was born September 8, 1952 to Leo and Shirley (McVay) Kriesel of Zimmerman, Minnesota.

November 17, 1973, Bob and Valerie Trebesch were united in marriage. They proudly made their home with their two daughters Tammy and Tara in Zimmerman, just a half mile down the road from where Bob was raised. Bob was a proud "Girl Dad" before it was a thing, teaching the girls to do things like; trap gophers, fish, hunt, drive a stick shift, make sauerkraut, never leave a room empty handed, always turn off the lights and just jiggle the toilet handle! They had epic tag-team family wrestling matches in the living room, played hours of Skip-Bo, took day trips, went camping, and spent a lot of time with family.

Bob spent his career as a cement mason, running his own business, Kriesel Concrete for many years. Many of his employees/colleagues becoming lifelong friends.

Bob took great pride and joy in maintaining his yard, planting trees and growing a garden. He spent hours every week on his lawn mower, planted hundreds of trees, spent countless hours building/maintaining golf cart trails in the woods, and gardening - somethings were just for the "challenge" but mostly he was famous for his canning tomatoes. Chili just won't be the same without Bob's delicious blend of tomatoes, peppers, onions and seasonings.

One of his happy places was in the cab of his Bobcat, where he could always be found putzing around the yard and in the woods - even teaching all four of his grandsons at a very young age how to run his Bobcat. Another one of his happy places was right next to his wood stove in the pole barn. Out there he spent many hours enjoying games of bags with family and friends.... Oh the lessons learned out there. (First rule of the pole barn, pole barn talk is not allowed at school)

During their 51 years of marriage, Bob and Val enjoyed traveling, gardening, working in their beautiful yard and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Together Bob and Val traveled to many states, several countries. Creating memories that will last a lifetime, they started bringing the grandkids on trips with them, with each one getting their own trip to Alaska.

Bob is lovingly survived by his wife Val; daughters Tammy (Roy) Luukkonen and Tara (Jim) Bartel; grandchildren Ryan, Kyle, Jake, Tyler, Danielle and Danah; great-grandchildren Brianna, Wesson and Bryson; siblings Rick, Bev King, Jim and Francie; sister-in-law Vickie; brother-in-law Ernie; many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Shirley, sister-in-law Jackie Kriesel, brother-in-law Gary King and niece Maranda King.

Special appreciation goes to the caring onsite St. Cloud VA Hospital Oncology team and Triniti Home Health & Hospice.