Robert (Bob) Emerson, 58, of St. Cloud, died at the St. Cloud Hospital Monday morning, Dec. 21, 2009.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, with visitation half an hour before the service. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetary at Elmore in the spring.
Robert was born Feb. 9, 1951, at the Blue Earth Hospital to Gene and Anna (Olson) Emerson. He lived and attended school in Elmore into the third grade, when he moved to Albert Lea with his mother and two older brothers. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1969. He received his bachelor of science degree in social work from St. Cloud State University.
He was baptized at the Elmore Methodist Church; he also attended Sunday school at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea and was confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea.
He married Jean Eggenberger in 1981 at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They were later divorced.
Robert spent the majority of his career working in corrections with Sherbume and Anoka counties. Later he worked in chemical rehabilitation at the Cambridge Hospital until his poor health forced him to go on disability. He volunteered, when his health permitted, at Recovery Plus, a part of the St. Cloud Hospital up to a week before his death. He is a three- time cancer survivor, having fought that and other health problems for the past 16 years.
Survivors are his two children: Bradley Emerson of Duluth and Anna Emerson of Coon Rapids; his parents: Emil (Swede) and Anna Oberg of Albert Lea: two brothers: Bruce (Lynette) Emerson of Albert Lea and Steven (Stephanie) Oberg, Littleton, Colo.; three sisters: Sally (Jack) Moore, Anahiem, Calif., Jean (Ed) Schlede, Albert Lea, and Susan (Richard) Michaelis, Henderson; six nephews; three nieces and their families; two aunts; three uncles; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gene, in 1956; his brother, Bradley, in 1968; a nephew, Jeffrey Moore; grandparents; aunts; uncles; and cousins.