In Remembrance

Robert (Bob) Paul Lyness, 89 years old, of Duluth, MN passed away on August 20, 2024 of natural causes.

Robert (Bob) was born on May 31, 1935 to Ivan Harold Lyness and Clara Alice Helen (Nickel) Lyness in Duluth, MN. Bob achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. After he graduated from East High School in 1953, he went to UMD to study. Bob was also in the Naval Reserves.

After studying at UMD, he started his first job as a truck driver/laborer, Teamster at Maynard Hanson Construction. In 1972, he started working for Donald Holm Construction as a carpenter and he worked his way up to a construction foreman, then a superintendent.

In 1955 he met Violet Elizabeth Anderson at a New Year’s Eve party. Bob and Violet got married on March 21, 1958. They had three children, Robert, Margaret, and Steven.

Bob retired in 1997 and spent his time traveling with Violet all over the world. They wintered in Naples, Florida for 24 years. Bob enjoyed spending time with his family. He also liked antiquing and collecting cast iron pans. He liked to garden, do woodworking, and cut fabric for quilts that Violet designed and sewed. He spent many hours boating and fishing and snowmobiling.

Bob is survived by his wife, Violet, of 66 years, and his children, Robert (Rebecca) Lyness of Cloquet, MN, Margaret (Ronald) Castellini of Duluth, MN, and Steven (Sandra) Lyness of St. Cloud, MN. He is also survived by five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his brother, William, his father, Ivan, and his mother, Clara.