Robert Entorf, 90, Albert Lea

Published 11:13 am Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The memorial service for Robert Louis Entorf will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Dwight Netzer will officiate. Interment will be in the Shady Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea with a Masonic service at 6:30 p.m. as well as one hour prior to the service at church.

Robert Entorf died on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. He was 90 years old.

Robert Louis Entorf was born to William and Ruth (Ayres) Entorf in Amboy, Ill., on Nov. 14, 1923. He graduated from York High School, in Elmhurst, Ill. Bob graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, with a degree in vocational agriculture. In 1962, he received a National Science Foundation Grant to attend Michigan State University, East Lansing, where he received his master’s degree in science education. He did his graduate study in geology at Carlton College, Northfield.

One June 21, 1947, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Alida Goetzke at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. They lived one year in Gilbert, Iowa. While there, Bob served as a lay minister for the Congregational Church in Gilbert and in Kelly. Bob was the vocational agriculture teacher in Stanhope and Grinnell, Iowa, before moving to Albert Lea in 1954. He taught ninth grade earth science until he became a charter member of the Lea College faculty in 1966. He taught chemistry, served as a security officer and later finance officer and registrar. Bob then worked at Wilson & Co. with positions in quality control, dairy and poultry and personnel manager. He finished his professional career teaching vocational agriculture at the Albert Lea High School, retiring in 1988.

Bob was an Albert Lea township supervisor from 1955 to 1961. He helped design the township’s first zoning ordinance. As president of the South Shore Drive Improvement District Association, he was instrumental in obtaining natural gas and a new road for that area. In 1958, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he was an ordained elder, a visiting deacon and a choir member for more than 40 years.

Bob had been a Mason since 1949 and held many offices including Master of the Lodge. He was a member of Royal Arch Masons and Apollo Commandery. He served as president of the Albert Lea Shrine Club and drove one of the little, red Shrine cars in many summer parades. Bob was vice-president of the Osman Temple Shrine Circus serving as personnel director during the circus in St. Paul.

He was a Rotarian for 45 years, served as a president and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Bob and Marge attended International Rotary Conventions in Tokyo, Calgary, and San Antonio, Texas.

He was an announcer at the Minnesota Spring Barrow Show for 35 years. During the two-day event, Bob did a commentary on the history of the show, the classes of hogs, the exhibitions and the show judges who were faculty that he knew from Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota. At the Freeborn County Fair livestock sale he bid on livestock for the businesses that could not attend. He was on the board of directors of Good Earth Village Bible Camp. While on the board of the Freeborn County Historical Society, he served as president. After retirement, he was a guide for visiting school children. As a member of the board of directors of the Evangelical Methodist Shady Oak Cemetery Association he served as secretary, treasurer and president. He served 15 years as a member of the local draft board and for 12 years he was the local member of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

He continued his lifelong interest in trains by serving as a conductor and narrator on the electric trolley at the Iowa Trolley Park in Clear Lake, Iowa.

In 1994, Bob was named Outstanding Conversationalist of the Year by the Freeborn County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. Awards were presented to him for his leadership and service to the 4-H and Future Farmers of America organizations.

He was president of the Albert Lea Teachers Association and president of the Retired Teachers of Albert Lea Area. In 2003, Bob was recognized as a Pioneer Teacher by the Southeast Minnesota Retired Teachers Association. This was awarded to Bob for his lifelong service and dedication to the teaching profession.

Bob delighted the guests at children’s birthday parties and visiting families with his “magic show.” This had been a hobby of his since high school when he had seen several famous magicians perform in Chicago. He could put a chicken “to sleep” three different ways.

The family enjoyed traveling; first they tented to California and Florida, and then traveled with a camper on their pickup truck.

After retirement, Bob and Marge visited more than 25 foreign countries. They attended numerous Elderhostel programs and helped to initiate the program in Albert Lea.

Bob is survived by his wife, Marjorie; children William (Marjory) Entorf of Albert Lea, Robert F. (Audrey) Entorf of Douglasville, Ga., and Alida Jane (Paul) Tomer of Gillette, Wy.; grandchildren Matthew Entorf (friend Meggie Grafton) of Ann Arbor, Mich., Travis Entorf of Douglasville, Ashley Tomer (friend Andrew Smith) of Somerset, N.J., and Logan (Brandi) Tomer of Gillette; and step-granddaughter, Rachel (Jason) Miller, and their children Bode and Reese of Albert Lea.