ROBERT N. HOUSKER, age 71, of rural Mabel, died Monday, October 4, 2021 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. He received fatal injuries from a tractor roll-over on October 1 while lifting a small boulder.
Robert was born December 16, 1949 in Caledonia, Minnesota to Bernard and Signe (Aasum) Housker. He grew up on the family farm in Preble Township of Fillmore County, Minnesota and graduated from Mabel-Canton High School in 1967. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1968 and was stationed in Turkey and Alaska. After his enlistment was over, he returned to Mabel and ran a small dairy farm for about 4 years. Afterwards he re-enlisted in the military and joined the United States Navy. When he finished boot camp at Great Lakes, Chicago, he received training for Cryptologic Technician. Subsequence duty stations were Iceland, NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola (twice) and at least seven ships with the last one being the USS Bunker Hill. He retired as a Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Lieutenant.
He was united in marriage to Terese L. Nicholson in Pensacola, Florida at Immanuel Lutheran Church. After his retirement in 1993, he moved his family to the FARM in rural Mabel, MN and has farmed there ever since. He also worked second jobs at Winnebago Software, Fillmore Place, Fastenal, Northern Engraving, Farmer’s Coop. He enjoyed working the farm and accepted the challenge of maintaining a farm house built in 1901.
Before coming to Mabel, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business. He never stopped learning, had good organizional skills with the truth being primary importance to him, was knowledgeable in a varied array of subjects and he had an infectious sense of humor. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and cherished his trips to Norway to visit his distant relatives in Finnoy (his father’s side) and Kristiansund (his mother’s side)
Robert was also proud of his service to his country and was an active member of the American Legion post #299 in Mabel. There, he was the current Commander and concurrently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with holding previous position as Commander of post #5769. He was also Quartermaster of the Fillmore County Legion Council. He served many years on the Scheie Lutheran Church Council and was its current president.
Robert is survived by his wife Terese of Indianapolis, Indiana; two children, Nils (Raena of Onalaska, Wisconsin and Adelle of Mabel; Nils’ children Finnley and Ava; a sister Carol (Scott) Christensen of Fort Collins, Colorado; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Signe.
Visitation will be Friday, October 15, 5 to 7pm at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 16, 11am at the Scheie Lutheran Church in rural Mabel with Rev. Lane Zaffke officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the church cemetery. |
