Robert "Bob" Davis

Robert “Bob” C. Davis (81) of Minneapolis, Minnesota died of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) a rare neurodegenerative brain disease.  Upon diagnosis, initially Bob remained at home, and attended an adult day program.  Eventually, during a 30 month period, he endured two assisted living facilities, and a skilled nursing home, sustained by nearly daily visits from his wife Linda Schutz.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Interment will be at Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Bob grew up in in Willmar, Minnesota, graduated from its high school, and sang in the Bethel Lutheran Church high school choir. He enjoyed times with family and friends, especially at nearby lakes. His early jobs included delivering newspapers, caddying, helping an uncle farm, laboring on a highway crew, and working at a men’s clothing store and book bindery, and parking cars.

Bob received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. He worked as a geographer and cartographer in Minnesota, and thereafter in Philadelphia with Aero Services Corporation.  In New Jersey, Bob was a senior planner for the Cumberland County Planning Board and pursued a Master’s Degree in urban planning from Rutgers University.  In Wisconsin, as a Brown County senior planner, Bob developed plans for parks and other public projects, and authored many related reports. While there, Bob became a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan.

Returning to Minnesota, Bob focused on regional comprehensive planning at the Metropolitan Council for 28 years. He led a team developing the Council’s solid waste policy plan, and worked on its first Metropolitan Development Framework (MDF). He eventually became manager of the Council’s comprehensive planning department. He was dedicated to defending the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) against inappropriate expansion requests. Metro Transit, an operating division of the Council, came to Bob’s aid when it issued his Metro Mobility card in April 2015, and transported him in its walker and wheelchair accessible vans.

Bob traveled to Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean, visited many major cities in the U.S.A., and enjoyed camping, the outdoors, and natural wonders. Upon retirement he made a solo trip throughout the Southwest and Central Plains. He lived in many houses, all benefiting from his handyman skills, as did his summer cabin. He loved golfing, jogging, classical music, boating, classic cars, and building model ships, cars, and airplanes, plus singing and pumping away at his player piano. He knew his wines, kept up with sports, current events and the weather. He enjoyed diverse cuisines, but favored a good steak dinner. He preferred TV mysteries, comedies and westerns, and mystery novels and history books.  He liked dogs and cats, and watching birds and clouds. Bob maintained beautiful gardens and indoor plants.

Bob is survived by wife Linda Schutz of almost 37 years, sons Mark and Michael (Lilian) Davis from Bob’s prior marriage to Patricia Davis (nee Koester), brother Paul (Mavis, decd.) Davis, and sister Shirley (Roger, decd.) Martin, and by other relatives, in-laws, and friends.

Bob was predeceased by parents Robert H. and Ruth Davis (nee Larson), and brother and sister-in-law Richard and Evonne Davis.