Robert George Behrens

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Behrens, Robert George aged 70. Died July 2, 2015. He was pre-deceased by his mother and father, Virginia and Herman Behrens, and his sister, Vergie Lee Behrens. He leaves much-loved wife, Marybeth Dorn; daughter, Kelly Behrens and grandson, Alex; stepdaughters, Christine (Denton Jr.) Newman and their children, Denton III, Christopher and Robert, and Barbara Williams and her children, Robert, Anthony, Kellen, Taryn and Quintin. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Kay (Mark) Vance; his brother, Fred (Janis) Behrens, as well as many nieces and nephews. Bob grew up in New Brighton and attended the University of Minnesota. Following a long career in the petroleum business, he launched his own business as a restorer and remodeler of classic older homes in St. Paul, particularly in the historic Crocus Hill neighborhood. Bob approached the daunting task of working on these houses with craftsmanship, ingenuity and a sense of humor. His clients became his friends, as did most people he met throughout his life. Always ready with a beaming smile, a twinkle in his eye, and a really bad joke he heard on the radio, Bob was a popular man. He served the community in many ways, including his service as a licensed part-time Ramsey County Deputy, a reservist with the New Brighton Police Department, as a board member and good neighbor in his condo association, a member of the Ramsey Hill Association and in his role as a deacon and trustee at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. Bob and Marybeth found adventure traveling the world, often on bicycles. Bob was a lifelong athlete, winning age group medals and awards for his marathon performances into his fifties. A man of boundless energy and enviable fitness, his cancer diagnosis seemed impossible for a man in such good health. As could be expected, he used the vigor and discipline he learned as a marathon runner to manage his illness through its last stages. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to hospice nurse Judy and the entire Allina hospice team for their loving care and support, and sincerest heartfelt gratitude to Christine for her extraordinary compassion and loving embrace of Bob and Marybeth throughout Bob's battle. A memorial service to remember & celebrate Bob's life will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at HOUSE OF HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 797 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Memorials preferred to Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative. Bradshaw 1078 Rice Street 651-489-1349

Published on July 5, 2015