Robert “Bob” Leland Buckley Obituary

Robert “Bob” Leland Buckley attended Redwood Valley High School in Redwood Falls, MN. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Robert “bob” Leland Buckley.

Graduation Year	Class of 1944
Date of Passing	Apr 27, 2019
About	Robert “Bob” Leland Buckley, 92, of Park Rapids, formerly of Redwood Falls, passed away April 24 in Park Rapids. Buckley was born August 20, 1926, at Union Hospital in New Ulm, MN to Donald and Myrtle (Hoyme) Buckley who resided in Fairfax. At the age of three, Bob’s family moved to Olivia and eventually moved to Redwood Falls where his father owned and operated three movie theatres. He graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1944. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Force and was discharged at the end of the war. He attended the University of Minnesota from 1945 – 1948 and was active with the Theta Chi Fraternity, something that he was very proud of and often referred to his fraternity brothers. After college, he worked at the movie theatre in Virginia, MN and returned to Redwood Falls in 1949. Bob married Mary Hoffman on May 2, 1949 and they had three children – Donald, Susan, and Patrick. He managed the theatres in Redwood Falls for his father until 1966, when he began to do sales for the Browning Arms Co. until 1968, when Mary passed away, and he returned to the movie theatres until he retired in 1985. On April 25, 1970 he married Gertrude Thiel. During his years in Redwood Falls he served as President of the JC’s, the Rotary Club, and Redwood Falls Industries. He was a board member for the Redwood Falls Centennial, treasurer for the Redwood Falls Golf Club, and a proud Boy Scout leader. Robert was on the board of directors for the National Association of Theatre Owners, North Central Division of Theatres for six years. In 1985, they moved to their home on Long Lake in Park Rapids where Bob and Gertrude were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, American Legion, Eagles Club, and Headwaters Country Club. In 2009, they moved into Park Rapids where he remained until his death. During his lifetime Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, reading, and flying his own airplane. Bob is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Gert; children, Donald of Park Rapids, Susan Ann of White River Junction, VT and Patrick (Lisa) of Nisswa; granddaughter, Mary (Mark) of Round Rock, TX; great-grandsons, Colin and Gavin; step-daughter, Susan Kay (Tony) Dolezal of Redwood Falls; step-granddaughters, Caitlin of Fargo, ND and Haley Sue of Redwood Falls. Robert was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.