Robert Franklin Means, at age 79, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002, at his home in Albert Lea after a relatively short illness.

Robert was born to Anna (Jensen) and William Robert Means on June 1, 1923, in Albert Lea.

Following high school graduation in 1941, Robert took a job at then Wilson Meat Packing Company in Albert Lea and worked a variety of jobs for the company. In April of 1943, Robert was sworn into the United States Navy and entered the Navy Medical Corps School where he had advanced training in premed at San Diego, Calif. Robert then served aboard ship as a medical corpsman in independent duty in the South Pacific and China. Upon returning home after military service, Robert resumed his employment at Wilson’s and became pricing auditor. He also invested in a bar in Geneva. After six and half years he sold the bar and continued at Wilson’s where he worked until his retirement in 1983 after 35 years of employment. During that time he met Joann Ruble of Albert Lea, a widow with five children, who worked in the Wilson payroll department. After a short courtship they were married on Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7, 1979. Throughout their marriage they enjoyed winter months in Texas.

Robert is survived by his wife, Joann of Albert Lea; stepchildren: Cynthia Schmidt, Julie Kramer, Tim Ruble and wife Celeste, Sara Ruble, and Harry Ruble and wife Renee; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nephew, Terry Cole and wife Nina and family; and nieces: Linda Miller and family, Ruth Thorson and family, and Rita Knutson.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, William and Anna (Jensen) Means; brother, William in infancy; sisters: Ollie (Means) Cole and husband Vernon, and Virginia (Means) Knutson and husband Elmer.

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Albert Lea on Monday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. Clayton Balsley will be officiating. There will be no visitation before the service.