Robert A. Klessig

Funeral Mass for Robert A. Klessig, 73, of rural Biwabik, will be 11am Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at St. John's Catholic Church in Biwabik with Fr. Steven Daigle and Fr. Joseph Thomas as celebrants. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at the church. Burial will take place at a later date in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Robert died Friday, September 9, 2011 at the Northern Pines Medical Center in Aurora. He was born February 14, 1938 in New Ulm, MN to Arvel and Mary (Norris) Klessig. Robert was a 1956 graduate of Fairmont High School and later accomplished his undergraduate courses at Mankato State. He received his Masters of English Literature from the University of Northern Colorado. He taught school in Aurora, where he met and married Colleen Riley. Later, they moved to Hibbing, where he taught English at the Hibbing High School for 30 years. Following his retirement, they moved to their retirement home south of Biwabik on Cedar Island Lake. Robert was a member of St. John's Catholic Church. He was an avid duck hunter, fisherman and a voracious reader. He loved being with his family and grandchildren at the lake. Survivors include his wife, Colleen; daughters, Gretchen (Roger) Pietruszewski and their children, Martha and Wilson, Annie (John Barneson) Klessig and their son, Jack, Sarah (John) Witzmann and their children, Claire and Hugh and Katie (Mike Hubbard) Klessig and their daughters, Nora and Margaret; sister, Carol (Barry) Tombs; nephew, Jesse; niece, Chelsea; brothers-in-law, Deacon Herb Riley, Nick (Ann) Riley and Bernard Riley. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Lee Klessig.