Robert "Bob" C. Thomsen

Robert (Bob) C. Thomsen, 74, of Brownsville, MN, passed away Saturday, Aug.3, 2019, at the Tomah VA medical center in Tomah, WI. Having lost his 19 year battle with prostate cancer, he is now at peace.

Bob was born in Austin, MN, on July 24, 1945 to Robert and Donna Thomsen. He graduated from high school in 1963 and then attended Austin Junior College. He joined the Navy on Oct. 26, 1965, and was trained as a Navy Corpsman. He served in Japan and Viet Nam attached to the Marine Corp as a medic, before being honorably discharged after 4 years.

On Sep. 28, 1968, he married Ruthie (Hulet) in Chicago. They lived for 33 years in the Chicago area, where they raised their 2 sons, Chad and Brian. He was a board certified optician and worked for several ophthalmologists before opening his own optical shop in LaGrange, IL. After the boys were on their own, he and Ruthie moved to Onalaska, WI. and ultimately to Brownsville, MN, where he and Ruthie enjoyed their pontoon and the Lawrence Lake Marina. Bob worked at Gundersen Onalaska clinic as a supervisor in the Optical dept until his retirement.

Bob so enjoyed all of his good friends in his 2 senior golf leagues at La Crescent’s Pine Creek Golf Course. He and Ruthie enjoyed traveling to visit their sons and their wives and their grandchildren, along with lifelong friends. Bob also enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, San Francisco, and Hawaii.

Bob was preceded in death by his Mom and Dad, Ruthie’s Mom and Dad, Josh and Adeline Hulet, his beloved sister in law, Joanne, and many aunts and uncles. Survivors include his wife Ruthie, son Chad (Jennifer) Thomsen, son Brian (Vanessa) Thomsen, and his beloved grandchildren, Payton and Sammy. He is also survived by his brother Craig (Dawn) and their children, Elizabeth and Andrew, his brother Marc (Cindy) and their children Dan and Kari, brother in law Steve (Deb) Hulet, and their children Brad, Lindsey, Melony, and Melissa, along with many more loving relatives and numerous friends.

A private interment will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, MN. A celebration of life will be announced in the near future.