Robert B. Marzolf

Robert (Bob) Marzolf, age 75, died peacefully in his sleep on December 2, 2023. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at First Lutheran Church in Le Sueur, MN. Military honors and luncheon to follow the service at the church. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 16 from 3 to 6 P.M. at Kolden Funeral Home in Le Sueur.  Visitation will continue one hour before the service on Monday at the church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Preston, MN on Monday afternoon (weather permitting).

Bob was born July 8, 1948 in Preston, MN to Irene (Harland) and Bruce Marzolf.  He spent his early childhood on the family farm in Preston.  Due to his dad’s health, the family sold the farm and eventually settled in Glencoe, MN.  He graduated from Glencoe High School in 1966.  Bob began his education at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA where he made lifelong friends and met his first wife, Deborah Varner.  He continued his education at the University of Minnesota, married Debbie and they welcomed their son, Jim, before he enlisted in the US Navy.  He was stationed in Pensacola, FL from 1971-1976.  While in Pensacola, they welcomed their daughter Sarah.  Following his military service, Bob and his family returned to Minnesota where he completed his BS degree in Agriculture and Horticulture Education at the University of Minnesota.

Bob began his teaching career in Woodstock, IL as an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor in 1978. In addition to work and family, Bob was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He completed his Master of Science in Education at the University of Illinois while teaching full-time and managing the demands of his young family. Bob remained in regular contact with close friends from Woodstock until his death.

In 1984, Bob accepted an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor position at Forest Lake Senior High School (FLSHS) where he also completed his student teaching. Over the years, Bob and his colleagues grew their program enrollment to require four teachers, making it one of the largest high school Ag programs in Minnesota. Their program offered a rich and varied curriculum including Floral Design, Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship, and Youth Leadership. With such variety, students from all walks of life found themselves in the Ag department. Bob loved to teach and connect with high school students. He also had a passion for recruiting and mentoring new Ag teachers. Many of his former students became Ag teachers and several of them came back to FLSHS to teach with him. It was his greatest joy to work with these teachers as his colleagues. He retired in 2011.

While living in Scandia, Bob was a member of Elim Lutheran Church and served on the church council for ten years including one year as president. He enjoyed raising trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and Simmental cattle on their hobby farm. Bob valued relationships with his neighbors and doing business in his community.

Following his retirement from teaching, Bob continued to mentor new Ag teachers through the University of Minnesota Teacher Induction Program. He also worked or volunteered for the MN Nursery & Landscape Association, the Minnesota State Fair and the Le Sueur Food Shelf.  Bob cherished time to reconnect with his friends, former students, and Ag colleagues.

Bob and Debbie divorced in 1993. Bob married Pam Hughes in 2002. They later divorced but remained close friends.

In 2019, Bob moved to Le Sueur, MN to be closer to Sarah and Jim.  He was a member of First Lutheran Church and was working to connect with people in his new community, build relationships and give away the Marzolf Maple Syrup we made from his sugar maple trees.

Bob is survived by his son Jim (Donna) Marzolf of Madison Lake, his daughter Sarah (Matt) Christensen of Chanhassen, grandchildren Kevin (Maddie) Marzolf of Southfield, MI, Lauren Marzolf of Bloomington, Ella, Greta, and Anna Christensen of Chanhassen, his sister Virginia Rosenbaum of Las Vegas, NV, former wife Pam Hughes of Wyoming, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Debbie.

In Bob’s honor, flowers are certainly welcome. As you know, he loved a fresh poinsettia and appreciated a beautiful flower arrangement. The family requests that monetary gifts be directed to the Minnesota FFA Foundation, PO Box 365, Plainview, MN 55964 or online at www.mnffafoundation.org.