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FAIRMONT -- Memorial Service for Robert "Bob" H. Witty, age 84, of Fairmont, Minn., will be 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairmont with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont at a later date. Bob passed away on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert Harley Witty was born on Dec. 18, 1941, in Mankato, Minn. He was the son of Harley and Hazel (Beal) Witty. After graduating from Faribault High School, Bob furthered his education at Mankato State University before later graduating from the University of Minnesota where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
On Sept. 8, 1962, Bob was united in marriage to Patricia Klint in Mankato. Bob and Pat were blessed with two sons, Scott and Christopher. After getting married, the couple resided in Minneapolis before moving to Mankato where Bob worked for the City of Mankato for four years. The family later moved to Fairmont where Bob worked as the Martin County Engineer starting in 1974 until his retirement on March 31, 2001. Bob and Pat shared over sixty two years together before Pat passed away on March 2, 2025.
Bob served with the Minnesota Army National Guard from 1960 to 1966, including six months active duty at Ft. Leonardwood, Miss., and Ft. Riley, Kansas.
Bob was a member of multiple organizations including the Minnesota County Engineers' Association where was Past President and earned the 1991 County Engineer of the Year Award, the National Association of County Engineers where he was Past Director and 1994 Rural Engineer of the Year Award, the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers where he was the Pat Traverse Des Sioux Chapter President, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. Bob was also a member of the Minnesota Local Road Research Board, and the Research Implementation Committee Past President and Past Committee Chairman as well as being active with the Martin County Historical Society, Martin County Conservation Club, and Interlaken Golf Club where he was a former Board Member and Board President.
When Bob found some free time, he enjoyed amateur wood carving, golfing, hunting, and fishing as well as volunteering with the Salvation Army and was a former Fairmont Hockey Association Coach. He and Pat loved getting together with friends every Friday night to play cards and dice. Bob was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where was a former Board Member and sang with the Chancel Choir as well as ushering.
Left to cherish his memory include his sons, Scott (Elizabeth) Witty of Mankato and their son, Jacob, and Christopher Witty of Buffalo, Wyo., brother, Gerald Hoogland of Naples, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Darrell Klint (Vicki) of Los Angeles, Calif., and Ronald Klint (Ruth) of Portland, Ore.; sisters-in-law, Darlene Parks of Fairmont, Minn., Sherry Turtle (Gary) of Sarasota, Fla., Sandy George (Jerry) of Sun City West, Ariz., and Barbara Teske (Michael) of Sarasota, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Witty; father, Harley (Mabel) Witty; mother, Hazel (Robert) Hoogland; brother, Ronald Witty; Stepsiblings, Beverly Pontow, and Dewey Rasdall; and sister-in-law, Carole Witty.
The family prefers any memorials be given to Grace Lutheran Church Missions, or United Hospital District (UHD) Hospice in Fairmont, or to the Martin County Historical Society at the museum.