Robin Les (Rob) Wellems

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Wellems, Robin Les (Rob) Age 64, of Andover, died on Sept. 18. He was born in Hibbing, the son of Grace MacDonald and Les Wellems. He was a 1962 graduate of HHS and served in the Army National Guard for six years. He received undergraduate degrees in biology and microbiology from the U of M in 1974 & graduated from the School of Dentistry in 1978. Dr. Wellems practiced in Coon Rapids for 28 years, with his daughter Jackie at his side for 22 of those. He will be fondly remembered and missed by his many long-time patients and co-workers for his kindness, compassion, and commitment to both their dental and personal well-being. He cared for patients as if they were family. Rob was always good with his hands, making everything from jewelry to kitchen cabinets and paying great attention to every detail. He liked to spend free time in his workshop working on his red '32 Ford roadster. Street rods were a big part of his life. He was an early member of the Shifters Car Club in Hibbing, the MSRA and a long-time member of the Twin Cities Roadsters, where he crafted the Silver Hacksaw award for many years. He loved to travel, especially to Hawaii, Disney, and Bob's Cabins. He was also a prolific collector, enjoyed pin trading, dancing, napping, and listening to classical music like Fleetwood Mac, Meatloaf and Paul Simon. Preceded in death by his father, Les Wellems (1952) and his stepfather, Wilbert Olsen (2008), and by the many cats that kept him smiling. Survived by true love and wife of 42 years, Geri Rose and the children he adored - Jackie and Michael; his mother, Grace Olsen; sister, Di Fisk; brother, Jim Olsen; nephew, Kristian Niemi; nieces Kara McLaughlin and Courtney Fisk; sisters-in-law, Janis Niemi and Jayne Niemi; brother-in-law, Wally Niemi and much-loved grand-cat, Tofte. Our most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bradley Boeve, Mayo Clinic, and his nurse Sue Kennebeck, for the best care that any patient or his family could receive. Memorials may be directed to the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota. A gathering of family, friends and neighbors will be held at the Wellems home in Andover all day on October 10, beginning at 2 PM. (763-422-0453)

Published on September 20, 2009