Robert L. Spilinek

Robert L. “Bob” Spilinek, 83, of St. Paul died Friday, January 01, 2016 at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul.  Reverend Rayappa Konka will officiate.

Cremation will take place after the service and a family inurnment will be held at a later date in the Bartlett Cemetery in Bartlett.

The flag will be presented at the church by the Carl Mogensen American Legion Post #119 of St. Paul.

Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a wake service at 7:00 p.m. at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.

Memorials are suggested to the Elba Community Foundation, Carl Mogensen American Legion New Building Fund or the donor’s choice.

Mr. Spilinek was born July 21, 1932 on a farm near Elba to Louis and Stacia (Matousek) Spilinek.

He was raised in Elba and attended Elba Schools where he graduated in 1950.

Bob worked for area farmers and then on the railroad in Kansas.

He entered the United States Navy on February 2, 1953.

Bob was united in marriage to Theodosia “Teddi”

Geisinger on June 6, 1959 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island.

The couple moved to San Diego in June 1959.

During his career in the military, Bob was on twelve, six month cruises to Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong.  He served on the destroyer, USS Henderson and the guided missile carriers USS Mayhan and Jouett.  His duties included radar, electronics, and serving as an operations specialist.  Bob received his final discharge on August 15, 1972.

After retiring from the military the couple lived in California where Bob worked to the postal service.

Bob and Teddi moved to Ericson, NE in August 1972.  Bob ran Callahan’s Hardware in Ericson and then worked for Foxley Feed Lots near Bartlett.  They moved to Wolbach in 2006.  After his wife moved to Heritage Living Center in St. Paul in 2010, Bob moved to St. Paul.

The couple loved to dance, especially the polka.  He also enjoyed fishing, doing carpentry work, playing cards.  Kolaches was one of his favorite foods.

While in Ericson, Bob served on the Lake Ericson Board of Directors for 19 years.

He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul, a former member of the Bartlett American Legion and currently a member of the Carl Mogensen American Legion Post #119 in St. Paul.  He was extremely proud to serve his country in the Navy.

Survivors include two god children, Gabriella Woeppel and Tom Berndt; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Teddi on July 19, 2016; a son, Craig Spilinek; a brother, Leonard Spilinek; and a sister, Marcella Spilinek.