Age 80 of Inver Grove Heights, MN,
Passed away peacefully on August 4th, 2026.
Preceded in death by parents, Bernard “Ben” and Helen; brother, Mike; and Willy the bear.
Survived by loving wife of 53 years, Linda; two children (one good looking and one smart): daughter, Nancy (Mike) Pone; son, Charlie “Chuck” (Sara); grandchildren, Ingrid, Helen, Nora, Stella, Michelle, Martin, Gina, Kaleb and Elliette; also many other family, friends and Fred the parrot.
Bob, or ‘Wip’ as he was widely known, loved aviation from the time he was a boy following his father’s footsteps at Fleming Field Airport, refurbishing warbirds into corporate aircraft. As a teenager, He won Linda’s heart by coming to her rescue after his buddy tripped her at a roller–skating rink (on purpose?) and taking her for a ride in his Piper Cub; she knew with him she’d never have a dull life, and she was not disappointed! Bob graduated from the U of M with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering before he continued his father’s legacy in aviation, saving the world from bad floats! He worked as the chief brains of product design in the family business, Wipaire, which was closer to an extension of his family. He befriended employees, customers, vendors, neighbors and anyone else who dropped by. Wip was also known for his love of animals, including his pet black bear, Willy, his parrot, Fred, and many dogs, cats and injured birds he found along the way. He engaged in a perpetual and futile battle of engineering wit against the raccoons to keep them off the bird feeders, while providing them a feast of leftovers. Despite this setback against the raccoons, he is adorned with many awards from the aviation community including the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award and being inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. History may show his greatest contribution to society will be the Fire Boss, an Air Tractor agriculture aircraft fitted with floats for scooping water and fighting wildfire. His design has saved the lives and property of countless people around the globe.
Visitation 3:00–7:00 pm, Tuesday, August 11th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 8108 Barbara Ave., Inver Grove Heights. Funeral Service 11:00 am, Wednesday, August 12th, at Crown of Life Lutheran Church, 115 Crusader Ave., West St. Paul with visitation from 10:00–11:00 am, prior to the service at church. Interment to be held at Union Cemetery, South St. Paul. Fellowship to follow at the Moose Lodge
#1088, 5927 Concord Blvd., Inver Grove Heights. The details for a Celebration of Life event will soon be announced.
In lieu of flowers, cash memorial funds will be used to create an aviation career centric scholarship in Wip’s honor, or donations may be made to either Crown of Life Lutheran Church Tim Burdorf Tuition Assistance Fund or St. Croix Lutheran Academy Dave Mielke Tuition Assistance Fund in Wip’s honor.