Harold Robert "BOB" Anderson was born in Omaha, NE to Richard Baldwin & Irene Gerry on April 7, 1943.  Bob was then adopted by Harold Rolland & Alice (Williams) Anderson in August 1943.  Bob grew up on a farm near Onawa, IA, went to the First Christian Church, graduated from high school in 1961, joined the US Air Force from 1964-1968 and served in the Viet Nam war and earned the rank of Sgt.  After he got out of the service, Bob moved to Minneapolis, MN and began working for a small used car lot.  Bob bought this lot after a few years and named it Mini Motors Used Cars on East Lake Street until he sold the lot in 2018.  Bob loved traveling and went on many trips with his good friend, Charlie Schwanke, who had a barbershop next door to Mini Motors.  They had lunches together often and went on cruises, traveled throughout the US, especially enjoying Las Vegas many times.  Bob married Patty Fritza in 1972 and a daughter Dawn was born in 1978.  They divorced in 1985.  In March 2003, Bob met Carla Evans through a personal ad in the newspaper.  They dated for 1 1/2 years and remained best friends for over 22 years.  In 2004, Carla found Bob's birth family and made the trip to Missouri and Oklahoma to meet his birth family that was still living, as both parents had passed.  Through this meeting, Bob also found his sisters, Carol & Debra and their families and got to meet them in 2004 & 2009 & 2014.   In 2020 Bob found his birth brother, Michael.  Bob also had a biological son, Jonathan, who he met in 2014.  Bob had gone from being an "only child" in his adopted family with no family still living - to having siblings and relatives, making a huge family for him to enjoy.  Bob's health began to deteriorate in 2016 and he went into Walker Methodist nursing home in 2019, transferring to the Minnesota Veteran's Home - Minneapolis in April 2021.  Bob was take to the VA Hospital on February 4, 2024, and on February 6 was diagnosed with a very aggressive thyroid cancer that took Bob to be with Jesus on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2024.  Bob was a sweet, caring, kind, generous, thoughtful man with an amazing sense of humor and ability to have anyone who met him love him after meeting him.  He will be missed by so many people whose lives he touched over the years and will remain in their hearts forever.  Bob is survived by his sisters, Carol Lawrence and families, Debra Brown and family, brother Michael Green & family, son Jonathan Wilson, daughter Dawn Saless & her husband Mike & daughters Nora & Claire, and best friend Carla Evans & her 3 daughters, Lori Hopkins, Dawn Sampson, Lynn Hasenstein & families who "adopted" Bob in 2003 when they first met him and considered him their family also - and remembered and mourned also by the many friends Bob had made and helped out over the years.   RIP Bob - we all miss you and will keep you forever in our hearts - we will meet in Heaven one day!


Bob with Carla Evans' family at Heather's birthday at Olive Garden

Bob at his Mini Motors used car lot with 1930s Ford in early 1970s

Bob with his parents Harold and Alice Anderson in the early 1960s

Bob with his dad Harold Rolland Anderson and Bob's favorite pet German shepherd GIRL

Fort Snelling National Cemetery

My dearest Uncle Bob, this is so tuff to go through. You were the best uncle anyone could ask for. I will miss our conversation about life. God truly blessed me to have you in my life. I am so thankful for all the times we spent together. You were such an amazing person. I always called you my social butterfly bc you never met anyone you wouldn’t talk to. You loved people and your cars. I am sure you are enjoying yourself up in heaven. You have probably talked Jesus’s the whole time about your cars and your family. I know how much you loved your sister Carol as she did you. You will be truly missed by us. It just doesn’t seem like you’re gone. We are having a hard time with this but yet so happy you’re not in pain from the anaplastic thyroid cancer and many other medical issues. We love you and miss you 😘 😢. 
Fly high my social butterfly ❤️❤️❤️

My Brother was a gentle soul always thinking of other before himself.  We talked so many times over phone always had a joke or something humorous to say.  I will always remember him as the gentle soul he was I loved him and will always remember him  in my mind n my heart .  Rest in Peace Bro…

Bob was born Harold Robert Anderson in Omaha, NE on April 7, 1943.  His birth parents were Richard Baldwin & Irene Gerry.  Bob was adopted by Harold Rolland Anderson and Alice Williams Anderson in August 1943.  He was raised on a farm near Onawa, IA, graduated high school and went into the Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sgt - from 1964-1968.  He served in the Viet Nam war.  After his service, Bob moved to Minneapolis, MN where he worked at a small used car lot, which he then purchased and called the lot Mini Motors Used Cars.  He ran this business until he sold it in 2018.  Bob traveled with his friend Charlie Schwanke - they went on cruises and toured the US, often going on trips to Las Vegas together.  Bob married Patty Fritza in 1972 - a daughter was born in 1978.  Bob & Patty divorced in 1985.  Bob met Carla Evans in May 2003, they dated and remained best friends for over 22 years.  Bob had several serious health issues over the years, but always had a strong will to live and to face each issue with humor and courage.,  In 2018 he went into the Walker Methodist Home, eventually moving to the Minnesota Veteran's Home in Minneapolis in April of 2022.  Bob's health declined over the last 6 months before he died on February 14, 2024, ending when a very aggressive thyroid cancer, diagnosed on February 6, 2024 took his life.  Bob was an amazing, complex, kind, generous, caring, sweet man with the best sense of humor.  Bob had many friends over the years, and in his last few years at the Vet's Home, Bob was known as the CANDY MAN, as he always had a load of candy and Tootsie pop suckers in his power wheel chair to give out to the staff, visitors and residents at the Vet;s Home.  He touched so many lives over the years, leaving his imprint on each heart he touched.  When cleaning out his room at the Vet's Home, one of his good friends stopped by and stated that there was a table of men that always sat together for Bingo, which Bob loved to play and was always very lucky at the game.  An empty chair is now at that table in honor of Bob, and I was told Bob would never be forgotten by these men.  Bob will be forever in our hearts.  RIP until we meet again in Heaven, dear Bob!

HAROLD ROBERT ANDERSON

Service

VIETNAM

US AIR FORCE,

SGT

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us