Robert A. "Bob" Stelter

Robert “Bob” Stelter

It is with heavy hearts and profound love that we announce the passing of Robert “Bob” Stelter, 82, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, on July 13, 2026. Born December 25, 1943, to Rose and Paschel Stelter, Bob lived a life marked by quiet wisdom, steady love, sharp humor, and deep devotion to his family. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved son, Matthew Stelter; brother, John (“Lefty”) Stelter; sister, Eileen Stelter; and sisters-in-law, Sharon Pederson and Judy Stelter. He is survived by his wife, Norrine; daughter, Cindy Costa (Steve); brother, Ron Stelter; sister, Sister Joanita Stelter “the Godly One”; great-niece Katerina Anderson (Sean Conway) as well as many cherished nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Bob married Norrine in 1969, and together they built a family and a life filled with loyalty, laughter, and countless memories. They spent most of their years in Rosemount, Minnesota, before retiring and moving to Sauk Centre, where they enjoyed a really good run at the lake before returning to the cities to be closer to Cindy.

Bob served in the Army and later worked at the Koch refinery aka Pine Bend, where he also served on the union board for Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE), AFL-CIO.

Bob was wicked smart, thoughtful, and capable, a man of few words, but when he did speak, his words were often filled with wisdom. He was always listening, quietly taking everything in and preparing for just the right moment. He had a gift for slipping in the perfect one-liner at exactly the right time, something his son-in-law fondly called “Bob’s mic drop.”

Bob loved to read and did so constantly until his eyesight no longer cooperated. Even with reduced visibility, he could still spot wildlife from what seemed like a mile away. He loved animals, watching the birds, ducks, and deer, and welcoming dogs, bunnies, and cats, all the creatures his family brought into his world.

Bob loved bowling so much that, at his peak, he belonged to three leagues at once. He loved hunting, fishing, and watching sports, ALL the sports. He enjoyed playing cribbage or cards, watching Jeopardy, playing Wordle with Norrine, challenges that suited his quick wit and sharp intelligence.

Bob also had a well-known love of sweets: ice cream with strawberries on top, oatmeal raisin cookies, sour cream and raisin pie, carrot cake, donuts, affectionately known as “fat bombs”, and plenty of Snickers and Pepsi.

To know Bob was to know his unmistakable humor. He fully embraced the infamous Bob shirts, with “Don’t wanna, Don’t hafta, I’m Bob” standing out as a favorite. And while the Uncle Bob salute, a middle finger raised in the air, may have seemed questionable or inappropriate to some, it was always delivered with love, respect, and a smirk that only those lucky enough to receive it could truly understand.

Bob was calm in a crisis, wise without needing many words, and funny in a way that could stop a conversation in its tracks. He loved deeply, observed carefully, and lived in a way that made ordinary moments memorable. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Services will be held Tuesday, July 21, at Starkson Family Anderson Chapel, 14850 Garrett Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124: visitation 4:00–5:30 p.m., memorial service 5:30–6:00 p.m., with a reception to follow at the chapel.