Robert W. Niemi

Memorial service for Robert Wesley Niemi, 83, of Gilbert, will be 10:30am Thursday, October 24, 2013 at United In Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth with Rev. Joel Rova-Hegener officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Robert died Sunday, October 20, 2013 at St. Michael's Health and Rehab in Virginia, MN. He was born August 23, 1930 in Sparta Location, Minnesota to John Sr. and Hulda (Hammerstrom) Niemi. Following his schooling, he married Janet Slatinski on December 30, 1955 in Biwabik, MN. Robert worked for DuPont in Biwabik and later at Giants Ridge in the maintenance department. He retired in 1995. Bob was a former member and served on the council of United Lutheran Church in Gilbert. He was also a former member of Kaleva, the Gilbert Curling Club and the Gilbert Housing Redevelopment Authority Commission. He currently was a member of United In Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth. In his earlier years, Bob excelled in high school football and basketball. Bob was also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and time spent at his cabin on Lake Vermilion. Bob always enjoyed holidays and other times spent with his family; especially his grandsons. Survivors include his wife, Janet; daughter, Roberta (Mark) St. Lawrence of Gilbert; son, Kim (Karen) Niemi of Gilbert; grandsons: Thomas St. Lawrence and John St. Lawrence; sisters: Evelyn Salin of Forest Lake and Laila Honkanen of Virginia; nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, John Sr. and Hulda; brothers: John Jr., Edwin, Eino and Elmer; sisters: Esther, Vera, Violet and Fannie.