Robert James Broskoff, 73, died Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester after battling leukemia. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing.

Robert was born in Albert Lea to Christ and Lois Broskoff. He attended Albert Lea High School and was in the class of 1964.

Bob and Sherry shared 53 years of marriage together. As a young man, Bob began working for Universal Milkers as a welder and Wilson & Co./Farmstead working on the loading dock, before he left to start Broskoff Brenegan Painting. He owned a successful painting business for over 37 years and never stopped working.

He was known in the community as a man of his word, strong-willed, no nonsense and a motivated entrepreneur. Bob was a great mentor, fearless leader and rugged outdoorsman, who shared his passion for fishing and hunting.

Surviving members of Bob’s family include his wife, Sherry; two daughters, Shelley (Ron) Groves and Shawn Teasley; two grandchildren, Michael and Christian Groves; two sisters, Ruth (Jack) Beighley and Jeanne (Charles) Huff; brother, Christopher “Frank” (Lanh) Broskoff; brothers and sisters-in-law Gary and Trudy Rogert, Cindy and Mike Everson and Vannie and Chuck Rugroden; plus many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law; and sister and brother in-law Helen (Paul) Espe.

One of Bob’s bucket list items was driving from Minnesota to Alaska, visiting the Yukon Territory. Bob and Sherry hit the road during the summer of 2016 and drove 12,300, miles exploring as much ground as possible over 30 days, fulfilling this dream. Bob enjoyed visiting national parks, cheering at sporting events for his grandsons, spending time at the family farm in Twin Lakes and playing a competitive game of craps while wintering each year in Bullhead City, Arizona.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Albert Lea. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

His family invites friends and other family members to join them in remembering Bob and celebrating his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at LLS.org or American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org. The family extends a huge thank you to the medical teams at Mayo Clinic and Methodist Hospital. Online condolences can be left at www.bonnerupfuneralservice.com.