Robert Thorwaldsen

Robert Thorwaldsen age 88 of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota died Sunday, September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Park Assisted Living in Detroit Lakes.   Robert was born on March 10, 1921 in Duluth, Minnesota to Alf and Jenny Thorwaldsen. He grew up and attended school in Duluth, graduating from Denfeld High School in 1940. He entered the United States Army in 1942 and completed his basic training at Fort Warren, Wyoming. He was then assigned to the 6th Ordinance Company, stationed in Berkeley, California. On February 22, 1943 he was united in marriage to Charlotte VanDuyn in Duluth, Minnesota. He shipped to England in February of 1944, where his company was attached to the 30th Infantry Division. He landed on Normandy Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged in November of 1944, earning 5 Bronze Stars. Following his discharge he attended Duluth Community College. He then began a 23 year career in the tire industry, many of those years with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. In 1960 they moved to Moorhead, Minnesota, where Robert worked as a Building Services Manager for Moorhead State University until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the John Bridges American Legion Post 15 in Detroit Lakes. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley.   Survivors include; one son, Paul (Cindy) Thorwaldsen of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. two daughters; Wendy (Thomas) Willett, of Bloomington, MN, and Janice(Robert) Beeson, of Burnsville, Minnesota. Five Grandchildren; Tom and Jim Willett, Brittany and Brady Beeson, and Robert Thorwaldsen.   He was preceded in death by his Parents, and his Wife Charlotte (Nov. 3, 1990).