Carl Robert "Bob" Wall's Obituary
Carl Robert “Bob” Wall, 75, a permanent resident of Fort Myers, FL, since 2012, formerly of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away Saturday, February 29, 2020. He was born January 30, 1945, in Minneapolis, MN, to the late Dr. Carl and Julia Wall.
Bob graduated from Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis in 1963. He met his wife Gerrie that fall at Augsburg College in Minneapolis; they were married August 6, 1966.
He attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis and worked as a radio announcer and television newsman in Minneapolis; Waterloo, IA; and Miami, FL.
In 1974 he answered the Lord’s call to ministry and attended Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, graduating with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1978; he was then ordained by the Baptist General Conference (now Emerge). He pastored churches in Maple Grove, MN, and Aberdeen, SD.
He then was granted elder status by the United Methodist Church and served churches in Murdo and Draper, SD; Watertown, SD; and Rapid City, SD. It was during this time that he began his music ministry where he brought his love for the Lord and music to many around the country. He was also honored to serve as a Chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol and reached the rank of major. During this time, he had the privilege of officiating at the marriage of all three of his daughters.
After retirement, he continued serving as an interim minister at several churches in South Dakota, Montana and Florida. He was available to do so until his death. He was an ardent student of the Bible and loved to teach the Word. In recent years he was a teacher and consultant for JobsforLife and was also actively involved in prison ministry. He developed Mission: Re-Vision which works with inmates both inside and outside of the gates; this was approved as an official program by the Florida State Department of Corrections.
One of his loves was flying, and he would often take off his glasses and say, “If it weren’t for these, I would be a pilot.” Whenever an airplane flew over, he would look up and say, “You know that someone is getting paid to sit in the left seat of that plane?”
Traveling, seeing his family, photography, hunting, golfing, playing with the family pets, and just being out in God’s marvelous Creation were among his favorite activities. Oh, and yes — eating pizza!
Bob is survived by his wife of 53 ½ years, Gerrie of Fort Myers, FL; three children, Jackie (Brian) Wettestad of Watertown, SD; Sonja (Matt) Reeves of Florence, MT; and Carla (David) VanBockel of Goodyear, AZ; six adored grandchildren, Brandt (Jessica), Jessica (Zach), Savannah, Riley, Natalie and Lexi; three beloved great grandchildren, Ella, Vada, and Briggs; one sister, Char Koshiol of Fort Myers, FL; one brother-in-law, Don Madvig of Minneapolis, MN; life-long friend, Jerry (Barb) Olson of Bloomington, MN; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, LaVerne Madvig; brothers-in-law, Mel Koshiol and Steve Neff; mother and father-in-law, Don and Grace Neff; and nephew, Bruce Madvig.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 PM, Saturday, March 7, 2020, at Cypress Lake United Methodist Church, 8570 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Cypress Lake United Methodist Church for “Bob Wall” which will be used towards the prison ministry he had a passion for.
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