Robert Dean Bolstad
Robert Dean Bolstad, 93, passed away May 26, 2024. Services will be private. A memorial will be set at a later date.
Robert D. Bolstad was born July 26, 1930, the eldest of seven children to Byford E. Bolstad and Helen G. Bendickson, Lake Mills.
Bob was an excellent student and excelled in basketball. He had perfect pitch and had a wonderful singing voice. He began his higher education at the University of Northern Iowa (formerly Iowa State Teachers College).
As the Korean War broke out, he left school to enlist in the US Navy. He served the majority of his military career in San Diego, Calif., where he fell in love with the Southern California area.
After an honorable discharge, he returned to Iowa to continue his education at the University of Iowa. There, he met many lifelong friends and graduated in 1958.
A year later, he moved to Chicago, Ill., to begin working with The Western Electric Company. He met the love of his life, Rae, during this time and the couple married Feb. 25, 1961. They soon moved to Oak Park, Ill., and started a family.
In 1967, they moved out to the tiny village of Itasca, Ill. This remained his lifelong home until his death.
Bob continued his career with Western Electric at the Hawthorn Works in Cicero, Ill. He worked there many years as their Material Manager Planner, moving to Oakbrook Terrace in the 1970’s with the business now known as AT&T.
Bob took a lucrative early retirement package in the early 90’s and began to enjoy the privilege of exploring new interests and travel with his wife. He joined the Sons of Norway, Skjold Lodge, a Norwegian culture and heritage organization, in Palatine, Ill. He became the business manager and produced the newsletter for the lodge for many years. Bob also belonged to the Itasca Library’s Book Club. He was an avid reader and was asked on several occasions to write reviews for the library for books up for consideration for the book club. He enjoyed furniture making and refinishing. He also had the enviable talent of repairing and expertly maintaining almost everything around and in his home.
Bob was a big Chicago sports fan. A lifelong Cubs and Bears fan, he also cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes, his alma mater, every season.
In his later years, he remained a loyal Sunday Tribune crossword enthusiast and played along competitively to the game show Jeopardy each evening.
Bob is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Rae Ellen (Foster); and his loving daughters: Nadine E. Norton and Carrie A. Bolstad. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings: Audrey Tyrell, Westminster, Calif.; VaLois and Tom Agnew, Dana Point, Calif.; Gary and Susan Bolstad, Bluffton, S.C.; brother-in-law, Robert (Mary Lou) Foster, Barrington, Ill; and his son-in-law, Dan Thompson, San Clemente, Calif. Bob also had many cousins, nieces and nephews, who will miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Theodore and Gladys Foster; sisters: Doris Milnes and Vonnie (Llewelyn) Tweed; brother, Donald; his brother-in- law, Donald Tyrell; and his son-in-law, Timothy Norton.
