Robert Dean Taplin

Memorial services for Robert D. Taplin, 77, Blue Earth, MN will be held on Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 at 2:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Blue Earth. Interment will follow the service at Center Chain Cemetery, rural Fairmont, MN. Bob died on Friday, February 20, 2015 at Mayo Health Systems-Mankato. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comRobert Dean Taplin was born on May 24, 1937 in rural Triumph, MN to John E. and Gladys E. (Weseman) Taplin. He was baptized on February 17, 1944 in Sherburn, MN and confirmed on November 8, 1959 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont. He attended country school near Sherburn and high school in Fairmont. Bob was a member of the Army National Guard 135th Infantry Company B from Nov. 1955 thru Nov. 1964. On November 9, 1957 Bob was united in marriage to Joyce Lucille Marquardt at Trinity Lutheran Church, Elmore. He was employed at Gardner Hatchery in Fairmont. In December of 1962, Bob and Joyce moved from Fairmont to Blue Earth. He spent 29 years with the city of Blue Earth, Light and Water. He retired from full time employment in 1999. Bob also worked part time for Wirth Brothers Distributing for over 50 years. He enjoyed woodworking projects, collecting pens and caps, hunting and fishing. Bob was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce Lucille Taplin, Blue Earth, MN; one son, Robert "Bob" Taplin, Jr. and his wife Jan of Mankato, MN; two granddaughters, Brittany and Elizabeth "Big Girl" Taplin; one brother, John "Jack" Taplin of Granada; one sister, Betty Grunig and husband Terry of Truman; three brothers-in-law, Dennis Marquardt of Owatonna, MN, Earl Marquardt, Mason City, IA, and Mike Cummings of Florida; one sister-in-law, Jean Taplin of Fairmont; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; two unborn children; one unborn grandchild; one brother, Thomas; parents-in-law, Ray & Lucille Marquardt, one sister-in-law, Lois (Marquardt) Cummings; and one nephew, Michael Cummings Jr .