Mass of Christian Burial for Robert "Bob" McLane, age 72, of Milbank, and formerly of St. Paul, MN, will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. The Reverend Ken Lulf will officiate. Bob died peacefully after a short illness at the Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health with his family by his side. Visitation will be at the Emanuel-Patterson Funeral Home in Milbank on Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. and in the church Wednesday one hour before services. There will be a wake service in the church Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Herb Holmgren, Randy Patnoe, and Richard "Cowboy" Wellnitz. Active pallbearers will be Roger, Greg, and Jeff Haanen and Tom, Joe, and Bob Hedrick. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery near Browns Valley, MN.
Robert James McLane was born on January 27, 1936, in Browns Valley, MN, the son of George and Marguerite (Perron) McLane. He graduated from Browns Valley High School. Bob was a Korean War veteran who served his country in the U.S. Navy from October 21, 1954, until his honorable discharge on October 15, 1958. He received the Good Conduct Medal. He then returned to the Browns Valley, MN, area. In 1962, he moved to the St. Paul, MN, area. He worked as a postal clerk for the U.S. Postal Service in St. Paul, MN, for over thirty years. Bob retired in 1991 and moved to Milbank.
He was a member of Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9. His hobbies included golfing, sailing, hunting, and fishing. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Survivors include his three children: Mark McLane, Moundsview, MN; Scott McLane and wife Patricia, Colorado Springs, CO; and Wanda Reuter and husband Joe, South St. Paul, MN; four grandchildren: Matthew, Rachel, Trent, and Dylan; five sisters, Phyllis Haanen and husband James, Browns Valley, MN; Kathryn Wyman and Elizabeth Hedrick, both of St. Paul, MN; Shirley Smith and husband Lloyd, Milbank, SD; and Patricia Dusing and husband Larry, Hoople, ND; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
His parents, one sister, Georgia Ann Zietlow, and one brother, George "Buzz" McLane, Jr., preceded him in death.