The funeral for Robert P. "Bob" Fjelsted will be at 11:00am Friday, January 4, 2013 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with the Rev. Linda Helberg officiating.  Visitation will be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013 and one hour prior to the service at Macken Funeral Home.

Robert P. Fjelsted, 83, of Wabasha, MN passed away peacefully Friday, December 28, 2012 with loved ones by his side.

Robert was born May 26, 1929 in Bilwabik, MN to Philip and Esther (Olson) Fjelsted.  He graduated from Thief River Falls High School in 1947 and then attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he met his wife, Beverly Joyce Nystrom, whom he married on August 8, 1953.  Robert enlisted in the AirForce during the Korean War Conflict and was assigned to the Sandia National Laboratory  Base where he received training in engineering and electronics.  After his discharge, Robert continued to work for Sandia Labs while completing a BS degree in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico.

Robert worked at IBM in Rochester, MN from 1960 until his retirement in 1987.  Upon retiring from IBM, he became a professor of engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and taught for 3 years there and 2 years at Rochester Community and Technical College.

He enjoyed traveling, boating, downhill skiing, and building, as well as mentoring and teaching. He was known for always lending a helping hand to others. Robert particularly enjoyed spending time with his wife and grandchildren at his cabin on Blanche Lake in Northern Minnesota

Survivors include his 3 children, Kevin (Marcia) Fjelsted of St. Paul, MN, Matthew (Amberlie) Fjelsted of Idaho Falls, ID, Jonathan (Cindy) Fjelsted of Rochester, MN, 4 grandsons, Erik, Mark, Joseph and Tommy, 5 granddaughters, Theresa, Mary, Kayla, Eryn and Abby; 1 great-grandson, Carter; 1 great-granddaughter, Olivia   Robert is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dale, and his wife, Beverly of 59 years.