Robert "Bob" Nordling, age 85 of Glenwood, died Friday, October 16, 2026 at the Glenwood Retirement Village. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22 at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Chapel in Glenwood with Pastor Bryan Taffe officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be on Friday, October 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Lutheran Cemetery in Oslo, Minnesota. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Robert “Bob” Wayne Nordling was born on September 9, 1941 to Oscar and Freida (Anderson) Nordling in Oslo, Minnesota. Bob grew up on his family farm in Oak Park Township and was the fourth of ten children. He attended Oak Park Lutheran Church and Oak Park Country School. He graduated from Oslo High School in 1959 and went on to graduate from Mayville State Teachers College in Mayville, North Dakota, in 1963 with a degree in education.

Bob built a life marked by steady work, service, and devotion to others. He began his career in education, teaching high school history and coaching basketball in Luverne, North Dakota, from 1964 to 1966. In 1967, he taught and coached basketball in Lake Park, Minnesota. That same year, he enlisted in the United States Army. He spent most of his two years of service in Germany and received an honorable discharge in 1969. In 1970, he returned to teaching history and coaching basketball in Athens, Wisconsin.

From 1971 to 1976, Bob worked for Witcher Construction. In 1976, he moved to Glenwood, where he met Alice Kahldahl. The two were married June 6, 1977. In Glenwood, he continued a life of dependable service, working as a custodian at Glenwood High School and later at Minnewaska Area High School. His final employment was at a card shop, a fitting role for a man whose love of sports memorabilia, especially baseball cards, was such a lasting part of his life.

Sports were one of Bob’s great joys. He enjoyed athletics broadly and was especially passionate about sports history. He collected sports memorabilia, with a special fondness for baseball cards, and loved attending card shows. He also belonged to the American Legion.

Bob was known for his genuine kindness, his gentle soul, and his generous heart. He had a joyful sense of humor, a quick wit, and a way of sharing joy with everyone around him. He gave the gift of a smile to every person he met. Those who knew him also knew the comfort of his wise, gentle advice and the constancy of his care, support, and security. Above all, he deeply loved his family, especially his children and grandchildren, and his devotion to family and community stood among the defining blessings of his life. Bob died Friday, October 16, 2026 at the Glenwood Retirement Village.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Nordling; sons, Eric (Rebecca) Nordling, Kevin (Roseanne) Kahldahl; daughter, Laura Sandgren; grandchildren, Dustin, Alex, Cassie, Tiffany, Ed, Michael (Ashley), and Patrick; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sandra (Gordon) Henrickson, Arlys (Ronald) Korynta and Marianne “Patsy” (Dale) Rivard; brothers, Lee (Sheila), Frederick and Donald Nordling; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, LeVern and Curtis Nordling; sister, Margaret Olson; son, Anthony Sandgren; grandson, Matthew Sandgren; and sister-in-law, Kimberly Nordling.