Robert "Bob" Getz

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Robert "Bob" Getz, 87, of Sioux Falls, formerly Kadoka, died Monday, December 9, 2019 at his home. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 12, 2019, at West Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Crooks, SD. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Wednesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic.

Robert (Bob) George Getz was born on February 21, 1932 to Wilhelm and Elizabeth Getz (Knittel).  He was baptized on February 23, 1932.  Bob grew up in Belvidere, SD, where he graduated from high school in 1951.  He served in the Navy aboard the USS Hamilton from 1952 – 1956.  He married the love of his life, Frances Parke on August 10, 1958.  Together they had four children. They made their home in Kadoka until they moved to Sioux Falls in 2016.  Bob was a man of faith.  He was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and as president of the congregation.  After moving to Sioux Falls in 2016, he joined West Nidaros Church of rural Crooks.  Bob worked for the State of SD as a road maintenance foreman in Kadoka for 43 years before his retirement in 1994.  His children went in the snowplow with him at times, and he and Frances opened their home to stranded travelers in Kadoka when weather closed the roads. Bob was active in American Legion Post 27.  He served as a volunteer fireman in Kadoka.  Bob was a devoted St. Louis Cardinal and Green Bay Packers fan. He loved watching his kids’ and grandkids’ activities; most recently sitting at the ball diamonds watching his youngest grandsons play baseball.  After retirement, he spent many years as a winter Texan, where he was the unofficial mayor at Carefree Resort.  Bob had a wonderful sense of humor and was quick witted with an infectious laugh and big smile.  He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family camping, fishing, hunting and playing beanbags.  He especially liked deer hunting season when the younger crew would come to Kadoka to hunt.  Bob spent time in the kitchen; his “Bob’s Beans” and hot fudge are famous among his family and friends.  He loved his family and demonstrated his deep love by “showing up” and fabulous hugs.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant daughter; two brothers: William (Lu) Getz and Paul (Ida) Getz; five sisters: Bertha (Art) Zeller, Marie (Charles) Illian, Laura (Rudy) Vollmer, Betty (Alvin) Long, and Margaret (Spike) Johnson; his mother and father-in-law Merle and Olive Parke; brothers-in-law: Clifford Parke, John Parke, Charlie Williams, and Jerry Kerkvliet; and special nieces and nephews.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Frances Getz; children: Scott (Anita) Getz, Roger (Angel) Getz, and Deb (Rob) Whipple; grandchildren: Megan (Ryan) Faber, Daniel (Alyce) Whipple, Molly Whipple, Marissa Whipple, Hallie Getz, Brady Getz, and Dawson Getz; great grandchildren: Grant Faber, Lauren Faber and Addisyn Whipple; sisters-in-law: Priscilla Parke, Kathie Williams, Faye Kerkvliet, and Aletha Parke; brother-in-law Bill (Lola) Parke; and many cherished family members.