Robert Pierret

Former Mankato Insurance Businessman, Robert “Bob” Francis Pierret, age 84, of Mankato, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 19, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato. Interment will be held at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis at a later date. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bob was born March 17, 1934 to Paul and Mildred (Dubbelde) Pierret in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, the second of 14 children. He attended grade school in Pipestone County and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1952. In 1954, he joined the United States Air Force and attended basic training at Oakland Air Force Base in Oakland, CA, and then he went to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS for Radar Technician training. Bob served his country in Fordland, MO and Korea in 1956. In 2012, he received recognition for his service during the Korean Conflict from the Korean Government. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant from Otis AFB in Massachusetts. From 1958 to 1961, he sold securities for King Merritt and Company.

Bob married Jeanette Sik on April 3, 1961 at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church in Lake Benton, MN. They lived in Pipestone and were members of St. Leo’s Catholic Church. Bob was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Jaycees. They moved to Sioux Falls, SD in 1963, where their first son, Robert Andrew, was born. Bob worked for Weathermax Men’s Clothing Store. They moved to Mankato in April 1964, where Lori, Tami Jo, and Anthony were born. Bob was district manager for Farmers Insurance Group for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2001. Bob was active in St. Joseph the Worker parish before moving to Lake Washington in 1976, then joining SS. Peter and Paul parish, where he served as a trustee. Bob was a member of the Jaycees; Mankato Exchange Club; Knights of Columbus; and the Serra Club, where he served as the Treasurer, Vice President, and President. Bob was co-founder of the Schola Foundation and was the first fundraising chairman for the organization. He served 18 years on the board. He served on the Loyola school board for 17 years and was inducted into the Loyola Hall of Fame in 2003.

Bob was devoted to his family and the school sisters of Notre Dame at Good Counsel Hill.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jeanette of Mankato; sons, Robert A. (Donna) Pierret and Anthony Paul (Lori) Pierret, all of St. Peter; daughters, Lori Ann (Steve) Levin of Lakeville and Tami Jo “TJ” Pierret (Rickey) of St. Paul; grandchildren, Robert (Lael) Pierret, Patrick (Samantha) Pierret, Kristian (Zack) Fjerstad, Brett Levin, Zoe Brielmaier, Emily Levin, Lily Brielmaier, Maggi Pierret, and Theodore Pierret; great-granddaughter, Evelyn Pierret; brothers, Jerome Pierret, Paul Pierret, Jr., Richard Pierret, John Pierret, Carl Pierret, and Joe Pierret; and sisters, Geraldine Halbur, Shirley Miller, Susan Tobias, Jeanette Caset, and Patricia Schaeffer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Ann Halbur; and brother, James Pierret.