Robert Rugene “Bob” Gleason, 86, of rural Lyle, Minn., died peacefully at his home Wednesday morning, Oct. 5, 2011.

He was born March 27, 1925, in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, Iowa, to Roy Francis and Amy (Read) Gleason and baptized and confirmed in the Mona Lutheran Church in Iowa. When Bob was 5 years old, his family moved to a farm east of Lyle. He attended Pinehurst Country School and graduated from Lyle High School in 1942. Bob’s father passed away in 1940, and at that time, Bob took over the farming operation while finishing high school. In his earlier years he also worked at Botsford Lumber Yard in Lyle, Toeterville Elevator in Iowa and custom farmed for several neighbors and friends. Robert married Violet Rogstad on Oct. 22, 1949, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin. From this union, three children, Steven, Sandra and Susan, were born.

A good steward of the soil, he wanted to leave the land the best he could for the next generation. He loved farming, enjoyed raising beef cattle and participated at the Midwest Steer show in Austin where he showed some of his cattle and won several awards, including the Grand Champion twice. He met many friends through the cattle business and farmed in the Lyle vicinity until his retirement.

Robert was very active in the community, serving on several boards including Toeterville Elevator, Farm Service Co-op, Nevada Township, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle, Lyle Public School, Pleasant Hill Cemetery and the Freeborn/Mower REA Advisory board. Robert’s hobbies were traveling, playing cards, going to sale barns to buy livestock and visiting with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Violet of rural Lyle; son, Steven (Cynthia) of Austin; daughter, Sandra (Keith) Groth of Stewartville; five grandchildren, Philip Gleason (Emily Kennelly) of Tallahassee, Fla., Dr. Kara (Carl) Mould of Atlanta, Ga., Marge Gleason of Miami, Fla., Michelle Groth of Chicago, Nicholas Groth of Madison, Wis.; great-granddaughter Elise Mould of Atlanta; two step grandsons, Dominic Ciola of Minneapolis and Louis (Nicole) Ciola of St. Paul; sister-in-law, Virginia Gleason of Northfield; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Amy Gleason; daughter Susan; brothers, Roy Gleason and Charles “Read” Gleason; sister, Harriet Gleason; daughter-in-law, Janel (Bendtsen) Gleason; sister-in-law, Phyllis Gleason. His family wishes to thank friends, family and the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin Hospice for their prayers and help during the past few months.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lyle with Pastor Barbara Finley-Shea officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin or one hour before the service at the church. Interment is at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Mona, Iowa. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.