Robert Kemnitz, age 84, of Marshall and formerly of Alexandria, Minnesota, died peacefully on Monday, December 20, 2021, at his home in Marshall.  A Memorial Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2022, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota.

Robert “Kem” Willard Kemnitz was born December 20, 1937, in Grafton, North Dakota, to Willard and Helen (Nester) Kemnitz.  He grew up in the Granite Falls (Minnesota) area and he was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. After school, Kem went to work for the railroad company.  On June 3, 1960, Robert was united in marriage to MaryAnn Bostrom in Milbank, South Dakota. The couple raised three children as they made their home on a farm near Sacred Heart before moving to Hanley Falls, Minnesota.  The couple then spent time near Granite Falls before moving to his family’s homestead in 1992.  Kem and MaryAnn moved to Alexandria for 16 years before moving to Marshall in 2015.  Robert worked for many years on his welding business and did significant repair work for UPS.  He later was employed at beet plant near Renville, Minnesota, and did lime kiln work there before his retirement in 1999.  Kem was a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Granite Falls and his enjoyments in life included shooting and collecting guns, knife collecting, trapping, hunting, fishing, reading books and magazines, and preparing homemade bread and soup for his family.

Robert Kemnitz died at his home in Marshall, Minnesota, on his 84 birthday – Monday, December 20, 2021.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, MaryAnn Kemnitz; 3 children, Dean (and Kathy) Kemnitz of Fergus Falls, Dale Kemnitz of Detroit Lakes, Heide (and Norm) Klein of Hanley Falls; 10 grandchildren, Michelle Abel of Granite Falls, Jason Abel of Granite Falls, Shane Klein of Cottonwood, Chase Oien of Elgin, ND, Dylan Schreiber of the Twin Cities, Devin Schreiber of the Twin Cities, Carrie (and Brad) Patrick of Forada, Kayla Hertwig of Alexandria, Greg (and Haylie) Terhark of Forada, Mark (and Miranda) Southerland of Fergus Falls; 4 great-grandchildren, Rylee Terhark, Jacob Southerland, Ellie Southerland, Eric Southerland; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends – especially favorite companion, Zane the German Shepherd.  Kem was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Helen Kemnitz, and 3 children, two due to miscarriage and an infant son, Donald.