Robert L. “Bob” Satern, 83, of Austin, Minn., passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Society.

Bob was born Nov. 20, 1928, in Rodman, Iowa, to Thorston and Vivian (Sloan) Satern. He met the love of his life, Colleen Bissen after racing to a house fire in Adams, Minn. On Aug. 25, 1951. They were married in Norfolk, Va., a union lasting more than 60 years. Bob joined the Navy in 1948, proudly serving aboard the USS Taconic. Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1952, Bob attended vocational school to study auto mechanics. He also went to work for the George A. Hormel Company in 1952, working for 39 years.

Bob was a member of Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Austin. He was also a member of the American Legion for 60 years, the VFW, and the Knights of Columbus. Bob volunteered with the Austin Auxiliary Police and as an instructor with the American Red Cross. In 2005 Bob and Colleen were crowned the Senior King and Queen of the Austin Fourth of July parade.

He enjoyed travel, gardening, wood crafts, playing cards and was a fan of the Minnesota Twins. A highlight of his younger years was driving a float pulled by six black and white ponies in the 1963 Milwaukee Circus Day parade. Bob’s daughters always thought their dad was an inventor. He could modify pretty much anything to work the way he wanted it to, always trying to build a better mouse trap. With his ingenuity and scraps of lumber, he made go-karts, skateboards, stilts and many other fun things for his girls.

One of Bob’s favorite summer past times was camping with his family. He always enjoyed playing guitar and singing campfire songs. With the arrival of the grandkids, Grandpa spent many hours with them around the campfire playing guitar and teaching them his favorite songs. Another memory the grandkids cherish was the time spent with Grandpa in his workshop, building and painting their projects.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Colleen (Bissen) Satern, Austin; seven daughters, Cathy Satern (life partner Ann Godfrey), Minneapolis, Carol/Coco (James) deLongpre, Rochester, Julie (Terry) Thomas, Mason City, Iowa, Janie (Rick) Fallon, Glendale, Ariz., Mary (Jesse) Hyland, Austin, Margie (Tony) Nelson, Austin, Nancy (Dave) Pries, Cottage Grove, Minn.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lucy, his beloved min pin dog mourns his loss. Bob is also survived by three sisters, two brothers, sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. There will be a 6 p.m. wake service on Monday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will take place 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post No. 91 and VFW Post No. 1216.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Queen of Angels Catholic Church or the American Diabetes Association.