Robert (Bob) Schuenke, age 89, of Alexandria, formerly of Long Prairie passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Diamond Willow in Alexandria. A memorial service burial will take place on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Prairie. Visitation will take place that day from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Burial will be held at a later date in Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault.

Robert “Bob” August Schuenke was born on May 2, 1935, the son of William and Viola (Bode) Schuenke of Faribault, Minnesota. Bob graduated from Faribault High School and enlisted in the United States Army. After the Army, he returned home and started working at a local printing shop. This would be the start of a lifelong career in the printing industry, which included 32 years at Hart Press/Banta in Long Prairie. Around 1960, Bob met Rebecca Jorgenson, a local schoolteacher. The couple were united in marriage at Becky’s home church in Detroit Lakes on June 16, 1962. Their union would be blessed with two children, Brett and Joel. The couple and their future family lived in Faribault, St. Cloud, and settled in Long Prairie in 1965.

When Bob was not working, he worked on home renovation projects, brainstorming on improving things, and building, fabricating and driving stock and modified pull trucks. He was a persistent perfectionist and the original “Bob the Builder”. He and his brother Roger tackled several building projects including a house, several garages and multiple remodeling projects. Bob and Becky wintered in Arizona for 18 years, joining his family there every winter and meeting new friends along the way. He would also spend time catching some giant pike on multiple fishing trips to Canada as well as dropping a line in an area lake for the peace and quiet. Bob’s quick wit, his big smile and heart will be missed by everyone that was lucky enough to meet him.

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, Bob took his final breath here on earth at Diamond Willow in Alexandria. He was 89 years old. He leaves behind his wife of nearly 62 years, Becky “Beck”; children, Joel (Lori) Schuenke and Brett (Brenda) Schuenke; grandchildren, Shelby (Sam) Schwalbe, Grant (Allie) Schuenke; great grandchildren, Eli and Briar Schwalbe; sisters, Roselyn Berg and Diane Kilcrease. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Viola Schuenke; mother and father-in law, Henry and Mamie Jorgenson; brother, Roger (Joan) Schuenke; brothers-in-law, Roger Berg, Jim Kilcrease, Dale (Leatrice) Jorgenson.