Robert K. "Bob" Oshel

Robert Keith “Bob” Oshel, age 70 of North Mankato passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, but peacefully at his home with all his family present on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato.  Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato.  Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Wednesday at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, and continues one hour prior to the mass at church on Thursday.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Bob was born July 16, 1946, in Ottawa, Kansas.  He was the son of Dale and Helen (Phillips) Oshel.   Bob graduated from Mankato State College and was active in the ATO fraternity.  He was united in marriage to Margaret “Peg” Carney on September 12, 1970, in Ames, IA.  Bob’s career was in the life insurance business. His most recent job was with the Knights of Columbus (KC) where he served as an Agent, then was promoted to Home Office Field Director where he managed General Agents.  While living in Ames, his territory was large and which required travel Monday through Thursday.  In 2000, Bob became a General Agent for the Knights of Columbus in southern Minnesota and he moved with his wife Peg to North Mankato.  While serving as a Field Director for the Knights, Bob and his wife traveled to Rome, Italy with the Knights of Columbus home office staff and had a wonderful tour of Rome, including the Vatican and mass with Pope John Paul and a visit to the catacombs, and many awe-inspiring churches.  One of the highlights of Bob and Peg’s fun times together was their tour of Ireland exploring Peg’s Irish roots. They found a ‘little bit of heaven’ in Galway and at the Marion Shrine in the tiny city of Knoch and became lifetime friends with a wonderful cloistered Carmelite nun, Sister Teresita of Jesus.  Is it a coincidence that Sister has 7 masses at the Knoch Marion Chapel said for our family ever year at Christmas?  Work, travel, reading, and softball, and volunteering were some of his passions, but Bob’s greatest time, love and care was spent with his family as son, husband, father, and grandfather.

Over these many years, Bob gave much of his time, talent and energy in service to his Catholic faith.  In Ames, as a young father he joined the Knights of Columbus and soon rose to the stature of Grand Knight of the St. Cecilia Church Council.  Now, at age 70 he was serving as Grand Knight for the Holy Rosary Council in North Mankato.  In Ames, Bob and Peg were part of a very special Catholic group called CFM (Catholic Family Movement).  As the name suggests, this was a group of married couples who valued family life and worked together to support each other through study, bimonthly Friday night meetings for discussion of the study material, and many fun family outings, and volunteer activities including sponsoring a Vietnamese family, and supporting each other in times of joy and sorrow.  They were with this group for 25 year and consider them part of their family.  In Ames, as a father of three, Bob served on St. Cecilia Parish Council and now, these many years later, he was serving on the St. Joseph the Worker Parish council and the St. Joseph the Worker Men’s Club.  Bob has always been a supporter of the Right to Life. Through the Knights of Columbus Council that Bob and his son Tim started at St. John’s Catholic Church in Mankato, Bob was approached by ‘Dr. Joe’ who was trying to raise money to buy his first ultra-sound machine so he could open an office that would offer free ultra sounds and support for pregnant women.  Bob rallied the Council members and got the job done!  That office has evolved into today’s Options for Women here in Mankato.

Bob’s greatest love was his family who always came first.  Christmas was his favorite time of year---he died while wrapping a Christmas present for Peg.  This is a Christmas WE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Bob is survived by his wife Peg of 46 years, and treasured children, Kelli and John; awesome grandchildren, Emma and Gabe; and brother, Philip Oshel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Helen Oshel; brother, David Oshel; and his beloved and greatly missed son, Timothy Patrick Oshel.

Bob will be remembered by all who knew him as a gentle, kind, caring man who could light up any room with his smile, optimism, generosity and goofy jokes.  He is “A Sparkle” whose light will never dim in the minds and hearts of those who love him.