Robert MacGillivray

Robert (Bob) MacGillivray Beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend. Robert Keith MacGillivray, 99, died February 28, 2021, of natural causes. Bob was born on August 6, 1921, to Glenn and Ruby MacGillivray. He grew up in Hopkins and Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1943 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was a member of ROTC and graduated from Master Gunner school where he subsequently taught spherical trigonometry to new recruits. Bob entered the US Army in 1943. He was assigned to the 42nd Infantry (Rainbow Division) and served in World War II in the 392nd Field Artillery Battalion. After an initial station in Marseilles, the Rainbow Division advanced into Germany. As Forward Observer, Bob moved ahead of Field Artillery, located the enemy position, plotted coordinates, and advised Artillery on angle of fire. With the Rainbow Division, he participated in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service in a combat zone. On discharge, he began his career with Farmhand, a Hopkins-based manufacturer of farm machinery. As chief engineer, Bob designed and supervised manufacture of equipment. He holds 3 U.S. patents for his designs. In 1948 he married Claire Doolin of Carver, Minnesota. They had two children, David and Patti, with whom he shared his love of the outdoors through family fishing and camping adventures. Together Bob and Claire relocated as the farm implement business evolved, to Norwood-Young America, Loveland, CO, Richmond, IN, and Grinnell, IA. After retirement, they returned to Loveland where Bob, an avid outdoorsman, pursued his hobbies of hiking, photography and rock collecting, as well as ham radio (K0JLD, Jolly Little Devil). They returned to Minnesota in 1993, settling in White Bear Lake. In June 2020 they celebrated their 72nd anniversary. Bob is survived by his wife Claire Doolin MacGillivray, children David (Lorrie) and Patti MacGillivray, and grandchildren Robin MacGillivray, Christina MacGillivray (Amrish Kumar), Kelly Moynihan and Tara Moynihan. A private family service is planned, followed by burial at Fort Snelling.