Robert Ankenbauer was born July 3, 1920 on his parent's farm in Elmdale Township, Ward County, North Dakota. (Near Kenmare, ND) He was the fifth of eleven children born to Earl & Edith (Dollahon) Ankenbauer. He like his sibling were expected to pitch in and help with chores on the farm. He attended country grade school and graduated from Kenmare High School in 1941.
He was drafted into the Army in October of 1942 and was sent to boot camp at Fort Belvoir Military Base in Fairfax, Va. He fought in Africa and Italy during World War II as a combat engineer: clearing minefields, building roads and bridges, and even occasionally acting as infantry. He received his honorable discharge on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945 and returned to Kenmare.
Robert married Ruth Karlsen on June 4, 1950 at Kenmare. They were the parents of four daughters born in North Dakota, Linda, Peggy, Joan and Jane. A son, David was born after they left North Dakota. They moved to Washington State in 1959.
The family were active members of the Lutheran denomination and he was a longtime member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hockinson, Washington.
Robert and Ruth celebrated their 70 years of marriage on June 4, 2020. Then in July he also celebrated his 100th birthday in a small group of close family members due to COVID-19, and just a couple months later Robert received the Presidential Unit Citation Award that he had earned during World War II, but hadn't received due to a paperwork error.
Robert is survived by his wife and their 5 children and their spouses, and 2 sisters. He will be dearly missed by his 20 grandkids, 93 great-grandkids, 3 great-great- grandkids and numerous nieces, nephews and other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. We are so thankful that we got to be part of Robert's life.
Added by: JaniceH 47377486
He was drafted into the Army in October of 1942 and was sent to boot camp at Fort Belvoir Military Base in Fairfax, Va. He fought in Africa and Italy during World War II as a combat engineer: clearing minefields, building roads and bridges, and even occasionally acting as infantry. He received his honorable discharge on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945 and returned to Kenmare.
Robert married Ruth Karlsen on June 4, 1950 at Kenmare. They were the parents of four daughters born in North Dakota, Linda, Peggy, Joan and Jane. A son, David was born after they left North Dakota. They moved to Washington State in 1959.
The family were active members of the Lutheran denomination and he was a longtime member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hockinson, Washington.
Robert and Ruth celebrated their 70 years of marriage on June 4, 2020. Then in July he also celebrated his 100th birthday in a small group of close family members due to COVID-19, and just a couple months later Robert received the Presidential Unit Citation Award that he had earned during World War II, but hadn't received due to a paperwork error.
Robert is survived by his wife and their 5 children and their spouses, and 2 sisters. He will be dearly missed by his 20 grandkids, 93 great-grandkids, 3 great-great- grandkids and numerous nieces, nephews and other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. We are so thankful that we got to be part of Robert's life.
Added by: JaniceH 47377486
Robert Ankenbauer was born July 3, 1920 on his parent's farm in Elmdale Township, Ward County, North Dakota. (Near Kenmare, ND) He was the fifth of eleven children born to Earl & Edith (Dollahon) Ankenbauer. He like his sibling were expected to pitch in and help with chores on the farm. He attended country grade school and graduated from Kenmare High School in 1941.
He was drafted into the Army in October of 1942 and was sent to boot camp at Fort Belvoir Military Base in Fairfax, Va. He fought in Africa and Italy during World War II as a combat engineer: clearing minefields, building roads and bridges, and even occasionally acting as infantry. He received his honorable discharge on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945 and returned to Kenmare.
Robert married Ruth Karlsen on June 4, 1950 at Kenmare. They were the parents of four daughters born in North Dakota, Linda, Peggy, Joan and Jane. A son, David was born after they left North Dakota. They moved to Washington State in 1959.
The family were active members of the Lutheran denomination and he was a longtime member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hockinson, Washington.
Robert and Ruth celebrated their 70 years of marriage on June 4, 2020. Then in July he also celebrated his 100th birthday in a small group of close family members due to COVID-19, and just a couple months later Robert received the Presidential Unit Citation Award that he had earned during World War II, but hadn't received due to a paperwork error.
Robert is survived by his wife and their 5 children and their spouses, and 2 sisters. He will be dearly missed by his 20 grandkids, 93 great-grandkids, 3 great-great- grandkids and numerous nieces, nephews and other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. We are so thankful that we got to be part of Robert's life.
Added by: JaniceH 47377486
He was drafted into the Army in October of 1942 and was sent to boot camp at Fort Belvoir Military Base in Fairfax, Va. He fought in Africa and Italy during World War II as a combat engineer: clearing minefields, building roads and bridges, and even occasionally acting as infantry. He received his honorable discharge on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1945 and returned to Kenmare.
Robert married Ruth Karlsen on June 4, 1950 at Kenmare. They were the parents of four daughters born in North Dakota, Linda, Peggy, Joan and Jane. A son, David was born after they left North Dakota. They moved to Washington State in 1959.
The family were active members of the Lutheran denomination and he was a longtime member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Hockinson, Washington.
Robert and Ruth celebrated their 70 years of marriage on June 4, 2020. Then in July he also celebrated his 100th birthday in a small group of close family members due to COVID-19, and just a couple months later Robert received the Presidential Unit Citation Award that he had earned during World War II, but hadn't received due to a paperwork error.
Robert is survived by his wife and their 5 children and their spouses, and 2 sisters. He will be dearly missed by his 20 grandkids, 93 great-grandkids, 3 great-great- grandkids and numerous nieces, nephews and other friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. We are so thankful that we got to be part of Robert's life.
Added by: JaniceH 47377486
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