Robert (Bob) Claude Kostuch

Robert C. Kostuch Bob Kostuch passed away suddenly on Tuesday March 24. Bob was born in St. Paul Minn., on April 11, 1934 and lived the majority of his near 81 years in White Bear Lake. Bob served in the Air Force for four years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in Dec. 1955. Soon after his time overseas he started a family and broke ground on a home he built himself. Bob spent the next 50 years as a carpenter leaving monuments of his profession from St. Paul to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and from Casper Wyoming to Laurel Montana. While Bob would admit he was not always the easiest person to work with, his coworkers would say he was a perfectionist that expected the same work ethic from his crew that he demanded from himself. When he was no longer physically able to do the work he enjoyed, he used the time to perfect his other passion, cooking. Bob never stopped learning how to make his good food better. A recipe was merely a suggestion to be enhanced! Bob was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Delena Kostuch, sister Lori, brother David, granddaughter Shawn and grandson Jason. He is survived by his seven children, Terri (Don) Fisher, Karen Kostuch Maney, Mark (Cindy) Kostuch, Kim Hansen, Shari (Dan) Drennen, Robert (Heather) McIntire, and Jon Kostuch, 17 grand children, 9 great grand children and 1 great great grand child. If you were one of those that were given a pet name, you are blessed to have that part of our dad. Toad, Muffin, Herbie, Little Horse, Slydel, Tiger, Annabelle, Raoul, you know who you are! He had a sense of humor and quick wit that stayed with him until his final day, despite the pain in his failing body. We are going to miss the laugh, the wisdom, the advice, the companionship and of course the amazing food! There are so many good people to thank for the love and care given to dad in his last years. Fran for the support and friendship, Ken for the companionship that was much more than close relatives, Nate for being there on a moments notice so many times, Gerald for all the little things that added up to so much, Nathan for all those hours fishing just for grandpa, his siblings who loved him just the way he was, and to his children Terri and Mark who thought nothing of driving 8 hours to be there for the many appointments, to Kim for the care after surgeries and all those Sunday brunches, and to Shari for the assistance and phone visits he so looked forward to. As per Bobs request there will be no funeral services. There will be a private family burial with military honors on April, 10 2015 at Fort Snelling. Condolences can be sent in care of Karen Kostuch Maney P.O. Box 10733 WBL 55110.