Robert Stillings

Robert ‘Bob’ K. Stillings died at the age of 84 on Friday, August 11, 2017 at Lakewood Memorial Hospital in Staples, Minnesota. Funeral services for Robert ‘Bob’ K. Stillings will be held at 2:00PM Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, 2210 E. Main, Albert Lea. Pastor Jeff Phelps will officiate. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service, from noon until 2:00PM. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery, Albert Lea.

Robert Kay Stillings was born on March 3, 1933 to parents Lloyd P. and Margaret (Mahoney) Stillings in Valley City, North Dakota. He moved to Iowa as a teenager and graduated from high school in Clinton, Iowa. He moved to Albert Lea where he met and married Dorothy Mae Oakland on August 11, 1952. They have lived in their current home for over 50 years and raised their four children there. He worked for the telephone company in town for 43 years.

Bob was a prankster, jokester, an incredible handy man, and a collector of history. That’s how a lot of people would describe him, but those who knew and loved him would describe him as a naughty leprechaun with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous streak too. He was a hard worker, built and flew model aircraft, hunted and fished, and enjoyed woodworking. Bob was a gunsmith and passed down his knowledge of guns to his grandsons. He also taught gun safety for over 30 years.

Survivors include Bob’s wife of 65 years to the day, Dorothy Stillings; daughters, René Rust of Apple Valley, MN, Dianne Stillings (special friend Mark Graf) of Melrose, WI, Kathleen (Scott) Davies of Mankato, MN; grandchildren, Aaron (Amy) Rust of Farmington, MN, Travis (Kelly) Rust of Rogers, MN, Krista Stillings (special friend Matt) of Minneapolis, MN, Katie Whelan (special friend Sean) of Seattle, WA, Nick Whelan (special friend Bre) of Mankato, MN, Sydney Davies of Duluth, MN, Spencer Davies of Mankato, MN; great-grandchildren, Elly Margaret Rust, Henry James Rust, Tyler Robert Rust, Lillian Grace Rust, Iyla Mae Muir; siblings, Jack Stillings of Kentucky, Larry Stillings (special friend Bryan) of New Orleans, Alice (Art) of Colorado; sister-in law, Lucille Oakland of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Alton (Bev) Oakland of Albert Lea; as well as many nieces, nephews, and relatives.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robert D. Stillings; brother, Ralph Stillings; step-dad, Robert Lentz; step-mom, Grace Stillings; sisters and brothers in-law, Vernon and Eileen Oakland, Eunice and Clifford Wilhelm, LeMoyne Oakland, Betty Stillings, Gloria Stillings, Alice Oakland; nephews, Brent Stillings, Mike Stillings, Eugene Oakland; and niece, Brenda Oakland.