R.D. “Bob” Boomgard, 90, of Austin, Minnesota, died Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, Minnesota.

He was born March 7, 1925, in rural Dodge Center, Minnesota, to John and Hildur (Peterson) Boomgard. Bob attended a rural one-room school for eight years, and then went to West Concord High School, graduating in 1943. After being drafted and serving in World War II in Alaska, he was honorably discharged in November 1946. On Jan. 2, 1947, Bob accepted employment for the International Harvester and Packard Automobile dealership in Austin. In 1948 Bob married Delora Exe in Hayfield, Minnesota, and to that union a son Gregg was born in 1955. In 1958 he changed occupations and joined the Federated Mutual Insurance Company as a sales representative in the Mower and Dodge County areas and served his clients until Jan. 2, 1989. They had a home built in Tofte, Minnesota, on the North Shore of Lake Superior, where he enjoyed going both winter and summer. Bob’s hobbies were woodworking and Mr. Fix It. He also took great interest in caring for the Tofte Town Park, including restoring cobblestone bridges and waterway. The Tofte Historical Society Fisherman Museum used some of his fix-it-up talent. Bob was a charter member of the Austin Male Chorus in 1952 and sang with them for 36 years. He was the president twice and was chosen an officer of The Associated Male Choruses of America for several years. In 1960, he became a member of the Austin Lions Club where he held several offices and was elected President in 1973. He held a position as an officer of the Austin-Albert Lea Life Association and was ordained a Deacon of The United Church of God-Austin.

Bob is survived by his wife Delora of Austin; his son Gregg of Duluth, Minnesota; grandson Brandon; and sister-in-law Maxine Lundene of Austin.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Hildur Boomgard.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2015, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin with Pastor David Schreiber officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Old Concord Cemetery, West Concord, Minnesota. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online atwww.worlein.com.