Newspaper clipping from the "Daily Missoulian" of Missoula, Montana dated 28 Feb 1948:
Rhode Leaving NP Service
R. B. Rhode, division engineer for the Northern Pacific railway on the lines between Garrison and Kootenai, Idaho, on the Rocky Mountain and Idaho divisions, has resigned, leaves Saturday to assume new duties.
Mr. Rhode will be bridge engineer for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range railway, operating in the mining regions of northern Minnesota, with headquarters at Duluth. He enters that railway's service on March 1.
He had been with the Northern Pacific railway engineering department for nine years, as bridge engineer, on field construction and as division engineer at Missoula since July 1, 1946, when he succeeded S. A. Erickson upon the latter's retirement. Mr. Rhode is a graduate of the engineering school of the University of Minnesota.
Newspaper clipping from the "News-Tribune" of Duluth, Minnesota dated 2 Apr 1948:
A new resident in Duluth is Robert Rhode, who arrived here recently from Missoula, Mont., where he was a division engineer with the Northern Pacific railroad. He will be joined by his wife and two sons, Peter and Richard, in the latter part of May. At present Mr. Rhode is staying with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd A. Rhode of 2109 East Second street. He has just accepted a position as bridge engineer with the Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range railroad. Mrs. Rhode is the former Elizabeth Tennant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Tennant of 221 North Twenty-third avenue east.
Obituary from the Dougherty Funeral Home dated 1 Sep 2018:
Robert Berg Rhode, 104, of Duluth, died Monday August 27, 2018 at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on December 24, 1913 to Sigurd A. Rhode and Agnes Berg Rhode in Duluth. Mr. Rhode attended Duluth Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1932. He attended Duluth Junior College and received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1937 from the University of Minnesota. In May of 1940 he married Elizabeth T. Tennant. From that union four children were born. Mr. Rhode was involved in railroad engineering for 41 years, 30 of which were with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. He began his railroad career on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha Railroad in St. Paul after graduation. He worked as a chain man. He was employed by Ellerbe and Co., St. Paul; Clyde Iron Works, Duluth; and the Northern Pacific Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in multiple field locations from Missoula, Mont., to Seattle, Wash., during the war years. In 1948 he began his service with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway where he served as Chief Engineer for 19 years. Major projects during this period included the design and construction of the taconite-handling facility adjacent to the Duluth ore docks; the Two Harbors unique ore thawing shed using infra-red heating; modernization of all old-style bridges on the Missabe; and track upgrades to accommodate current loading. He retired from the D.M.&I.R. in 1978.
Mr. Rhode was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served on their national board of directors for several years. He was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and served on the committee concerned with the rolling of steel railroad rail. In 1956 he served on the mayor's task force on development of the major highway plan through the City of Duluth.
Mr. Rhode was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children and was one of the incorporators of the United Development Activity Center (UDAC) as well as on the Goodwill board for several years when their activity was expanded with the purchase of their present facility. He was a member of the Lake Superior Council of Boy Scouts. Mr. Rhode was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) and a former trustee. He was a member of the Kitchi Gammi Club, Rotary, the Duluth Valley of the Scottish Rite, and the Sons of Norway Duluth Nortun Lodge 1-016.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd and Agnes; wife Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1979; and his brother Richard S. Rhode in 2008.
He is survived by his children Peter (Mary) of Roseville, Minn., Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, Minn., Christopher of Duluth, Minn. and a daughter Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, Ill., 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the staffs of Mount Royal Pines III and Marywood at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center for their care and concern for Mr. Rhode.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Duluth Regional Care Center, 5629 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN 55807, the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, 28 W 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802 or Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812.
Visitation will be held on Monday September 17, 2018 at Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Funeral Service. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.
Obituary from the American Society of Civil Engineers:
ASCE's Oldest Active Member Dies at 104
Robert B. Rhode, ASCE's oldest active member, has died at the age of 104 in his hometown of Duluth, MN.
Rhode, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, leaves a legacy of civil engineering accomplishments both in Duluth and with ASCE. He served as the Duluth Section president in 1953-54 and on ASCE's Board of Direction as the District 7 director 1980-82. Age didn't keep him from remaining active in ASCE, as he continued attending Section meetings in recent years well beyond his 100th birthday.
"He would come to literally every monthly section meeting," said Chris Rousseau, P.E., M.ASCE, himself a former Duluth Section president and Region 3 governor.
"Every time we had a technical presentation, he always had at least one question for the presenter. He always had something to say.
"He wanted to be there, always supportive, always interested in what we were doing. Just a very affable, very welcoming guy. And he loved the organization, that was very clear."
Born on Christmas Eve 1913, Rhode joined ASCE in 1937 after receiving his degree in civil engineering that year from the University of Minnesota. He worked for the Omaha Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad, before beginning a 40-year career with the Duluth Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad in 1948.
"His family recalls his dedication during his tenure with the DM&IR," Rousseau wrote of Rhode in a member profile for the Duluth Section. "He selflessly, on many occasions, responded to late night calls to address emergency situations including derailments. Many of his engineering accomplishments still remain in service including railroad bridges and the DM&IR loading docks with which he had design involvement."
Rhode earned ASCE Life Member status in 1978 before current Society younger members were even born. He had been named an ASCE Fellow in 1966.
He also was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, and was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children.
Robert married Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1940, and they raised four children together before her passing in 1979. He is survived by those children, Peter (Mary) of Roseville, MN, Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, MN, Christopher of Duluth, MN, and Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, IL, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Just last year, the Duluth Section honored Rhode as part of its centennial celebration.
"As a Section, I think we were incredibly blessed to have him," Rousseau said.
Rhode Leaving NP Service
R. B. Rhode, division engineer for the Northern Pacific railway on the lines between Garrison and Kootenai, Idaho, on the Rocky Mountain and Idaho divisions, has resigned, leaves Saturday to assume new duties.
Mr. Rhode will be bridge engineer for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range railway, operating in the mining regions of northern Minnesota, with headquarters at Duluth. He enters that railway's service on March 1.
He had been with the Northern Pacific railway engineering department for nine years, as bridge engineer, on field construction and as division engineer at Missoula since July 1, 1946, when he succeeded S. A. Erickson upon the latter's retirement. Mr. Rhode is a graduate of the engineering school of the University of Minnesota.
Newspaper clipping from the "News-Tribune" of Duluth, Minnesota dated 2 Apr 1948:
A new resident in Duluth is Robert Rhode, who arrived here recently from Missoula, Mont., where he was a division engineer with the Northern Pacific railroad. He will be joined by his wife and two sons, Peter and Richard, in the latter part of May. At present Mr. Rhode is staying with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd A. Rhode of 2109 East Second street. He has just accepted a position as bridge engineer with the Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range railroad. Mrs. Rhode is the former Elizabeth Tennant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Tennant of 221 North Twenty-third avenue east.
Obituary from the Dougherty Funeral Home dated 1 Sep 2018:
Robert Berg Rhode, 104, of Duluth, died Monday August 27, 2018 at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on December 24, 1913 to Sigurd A. Rhode and Agnes Berg Rhode in Duluth. Mr. Rhode attended Duluth Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1932. He attended Duluth Junior College and received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1937 from the University of Minnesota. In May of 1940 he married Elizabeth T. Tennant. From that union four children were born. Mr. Rhode was involved in railroad engineering for 41 years, 30 of which were with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. He began his railroad career on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha Railroad in St. Paul after graduation. He worked as a chain man. He was employed by Ellerbe and Co., St. Paul; Clyde Iron Works, Duluth; and the Northern Pacific Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in multiple field locations from Missoula, Mont., to Seattle, Wash., during the war years. In 1948 he began his service with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway where he served as Chief Engineer for 19 years. Major projects during this period included the design and construction of the taconite-handling facility adjacent to the Duluth ore docks; the Two Harbors unique ore thawing shed using infra-red heating; modernization of all old-style bridges on the Missabe; and track upgrades to accommodate current loading. He retired from the D.M.&I.R. in 1978.
Mr. Rhode was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served on their national board of directors for several years. He was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and served on the committee concerned with the rolling of steel railroad rail. In 1956 he served on the mayor's task force on development of the major highway plan through the City of Duluth.
Mr. Rhode was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children and was one of the incorporators of the United Development Activity Center (UDAC) as well as on the Goodwill board for several years when their activity was expanded with the purchase of their present facility. He was a member of the Lake Superior Council of Boy Scouts. Mr. Rhode was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) and a former trustee. He was a member of the Kitchi Gammi Club, Rotary, the Duluth Valley of the Scottish Rite, and the Sons of Norway Duluth Nortun Lodge 1-016.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd and Agnes; wife Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1979; and his brother Richard S. Rhode in 2008.
He is survived by his children Peter (Mary) of Roseville, Minn., Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, Minn., Christopher of Duluth, Minn. and a daughter Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, Ill., 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the staffs of Mount Royal Pines III and Marywood at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center for their care and concern for Mr. Rhode.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Duluth Regional Care Center, 5629 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN 55807, the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, 28 W 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802 or Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812.
Visitation will be held on Monday September 17, 2018 at Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Funeral Service. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.
Obituary from the American Society of Civil Engineers:
ASCE's Oldest Active Member Dies at 104
Robert B. Rhode, ASCE's oldest active member, has died at the age of 104 in his hometown of Duluth, MN.
Rhode, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, leaves a legacy of civil engineering accomplishments both in Duluth and with ASCE. He served as the Duluth Section president in 1953-54 and on ASCE's Board of Direction as the District 7 director 1980-82. Age didn't keep him from remaining active in ASCE, as he continued attending Section meetings in recent years well beyond his 100th birthday.
"He would come to literally every monthly section meeting," said Chris Rousseau, P.E., M.ASCE, himself a former Duluth Section president and Region 3 governor.
"Every time we had a technical presentation, he always had at least one question for the presenter. He always had something to say.
"He wanted to be there, always supportive, always interested in what we were doing. Just a very affable, very welcoming guy. And he loved the organization, that was very clear."
Born on Christmas Eve 1913, Rhode joined ASCE in 1937 after receiving his degree in civil engineering that year from the University of Minnesota. He worked for the Omaha Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad, before beginning a 40-year career with the Duluth Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad in 1948.
"His family recalls his dedication during his tenure with the DM&IR," Rousseau wrote of Rhode in a member profile for the Duluth Section. "He selflessly, on many occasions, responded to late night calls to address emergency situations including derailments. Many of his engineering accomplishments still remain in service including railroad bridges and the DM&IR loading docks with which he had design involvement."
Rhode earned ASCE Life Member status in 1978 before current Society younger members were even born. He had been named an ASCE Fellow in 1966.
He also was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, and was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children.
Robert married Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1940, and they raised four children together before her passing in 1979. He is survived by those children, Peter (Mary) of Roseville, MN, Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, MN, Christopher of Duluth, MN, and Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, IL, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Just last year, the Duluth Section honored Rhode as part of its centennial celebration.
"As a Section, I think we were incredibly blessed to have him," Rousseau said.
Newspaper clipping from the "Daily Missoulian" of Missoula, Montana dated 28 Feb 1948:
Rhode Leaving NP Service
R. B. Rhode, division engineer for the Northern Pacific railway on the lines between Garrison and Kootenai, Idaho, on the Rocky Mountain and Idaho divisions, has resigned, leaves Saturday to assume new duties.
Mr. Rhode will be bridge engineer for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range railway, operating in the mining regions of northern Minnesota, with headquarters at Duluth. He enters that railway's service on March 1.
He had been with the Northern Pacific railway engineering department for nine years, as bridge engineer, on field construction and as division engineer at Missoula since July 1, 1946, when he succeeded S. A. Erickson upon the latter's retirement. Mr. Rhode is a graduate of the engineering school of the University of Minnesota.
Newspaper clipping from the "News-Tribune" of Duluth, Minnesota dated 2 Apr 1948:
A new resident in Duluth is Robert Rhode, who arrived here recently from Missoula, Mont., where he was a division engineer with the Northern Pacific railroad. He will be joined by his wife and two sons, Peter and Richard, in the latter part of May. At present Mr. Rhode is staying with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd A. Rhode of 2109 East Second street. He has just accepted a position as bridge engineer with the Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range railroad. Mrs. Rhode is the former Elizabeth Tennant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Tennant of 221 North Twenty-third avenue east.
Obituary from the Dougherty Funeral Home dated 1 Sep 2018:
Robert Berg Rhode, 104, of Duluth, died Monday August 27, 2018 at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on December 24, 1913 to Sigurd A. Rhode and Agnes Berg Rhode in Duluth. Mr. Rhode attended Duluth Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1932. He attended Duluth Junior College and received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1937 from the University of Minnesota. In May of 1940 he married Elizabeth T. Tennant. From that union four children were born. Mr. Rhode was involved in railroad engineering for 41 years, 30 of which were with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. He began his railroad career on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha Railroad in St. Paul after graduation. He worked as a chain man. He was employed by Ellerbe and Co., St. Paul; Clyde Iron Works, Duluth; and the Northern Pacific Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in multiple field locations from Missoula, Mont., to Seattle, Wash., during the war years. In 1948 he began his service with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway where he served as Chief Engineer for 19 years. Major projects during this period included the design and construction of the taconite-handling facility adjacent to the Duluth ore docks; the Two Harbors unique ore thawing shed using infra-red heating; modernization of all old-style bridges on the Missabe; and track upgrades to accommodate current loading. He retired from the D.M.&I.R. in 1978.
Mr. Rhode was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served on their national board of directors for several years. He was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and served on the committee concerned with the rolling of steel railroad rail. In 1956 he served on the mayor's task force on development of the major highway plan through the City of Duluth.
Mr. Rhode was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children and was one of the incorporators of the United Development Activity Center (UDAC) as well as on the Goodwill board for several years when their activity was expanded with the purchase of their present facility. He was a member of the Lake Superior Council of Boy Scouts. Mr. Rhode was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) and a former trustee. He was a member of the Kitchi Gammi Club, Rotary, the Duluth Valley of the Scottish Rite, and the Sons of Norway Duluth Nortun Lodge 1-016.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd and Agnes; wife Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1979; and his brother Richard S. Rhode in 2008.
He is survived by his children Peter (Mary) of Roseville, Minn., Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, Minn., Christopher of Duluth, Minn. and a daughter Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, Ill., 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the staffs of Mount Royal Pines III and Marywood at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center for their care and concern for Mr. Rhode.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Duluth Regional Care Center, 5629 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN 55807, the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, 28 W 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802 or Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812.
Visitation will be held on Monday September 17, 2018 at Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Funeral Service. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.
Obituary from the American Society of Civil Engineers:
ASCE's Oldest Active Member Dies at 104
Robert B. Rhode, ASCE's oldest active member, has died at the age of 104 in his hometown of Duluth, MN.
Rhode, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, leaves a legacy of civil engineering accomplishments both in Duluth and with ASCE. He served as the Duluth Section president in 1953-54 and on ASCE's Board of Direction as the District 7 director 1980-82. Age didn't keep him from remaining active in ASCE, as he continued attending Section meetings in recent years well beyond his 100th birthday.
"He would come to literally every monthly section meeting," said Chris Rousseau, P.E., M.ASCE, himself a former Duluth Section president and Region 3 governor.
"Every time we had a technical presentation, he always had at least one question for the presenter. He always had something to say.
"He wanted to be there, always supportive, always interested in what we were doing. Just a very affable, very welcoming guy. And he loved the organization, that was very clear."
Born on Christmas Eve 1913, Rhode joined ASCE in 1937 after receiving his degree in civil engineering that year from the University of Minnesota. He worked for the Omaha Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad, before beginning a 40-year career with the Duluth Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad in 1948.
"His family recalls his dedication during his tenure with the DM&IR," Rousseau wrote of Rhode in a member profile for the Duluth Section. "He selflessly, on many occasions, responded to late night calls to address emergency situations including derailments. Many of his engineering accomplishments still remain in service including railroad bridges and the DM&IR loading docks with which he had design involvement."
Rhode earned ASCE Life Member status in 1978 before current Society younger members were even born. He had been named an ASCE Fellow in 1966.
He also was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, and was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children.
Robert married Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1940, and they raised four children together before her passing in 1979. He is survived by those children, Peter (Mary) of Roseville, MN, Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, MN, Christopher of Duluth, MN, and Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, IL, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Just last year, the Duluth Section honored Rhode as part of its centennial celebration.
"As a Section, I think we were incredibly blessed to have him," Rousseau said.
Rhode Leaving NP Service
R. B. Rhode, division engineer for the Northern Pacific railway on the lines between Garrison and Kootenai, Idaho, on the Rocky Mountain and Idaho divisions, has resigned, leaves Saturday to assume new duties.
Mr. Rhode will be bridge engineer for the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range railway, operating in the mining regions of northern Minnesota, with headquarters at Duluth. He enters that railway's service on March 1.
He had been with the Northern Pacific railway engineering department for nine years, as bridge engineer, on field construction and as division engineer at Missoula since July 1, 1946, when he succeeded S. A. Erickson upon the latter's retirement. Mr. Rhode is a graduate of the engineering school of the University of Minnesota.
Newspaper clipping from the "News-Tribune" of Duluth, Minnesota dated 2 Apr 1948:
A new resident in Duluth is Robert Rhode, who arrived here recently from Missoula, Mont., where he was a division engineer with the Northern Pacific railroad. He will be joined by his wife and two sons, Peter and Richard, in the latter part of May. At present Mr. Rhode is staying with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sigurd A. Rhode of 2109 East Second street. He has just accepted a position as bridge engineer with the Duluth, Missabi & Iron Range railroad. Mrs. Rhode is the former Elizabeth Tennant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Tennant of 221 North Twenty-third avenue east.
Obituary from the Dougherty Funeral Home dated 1 Sep 2018:
Robert Berg Rhode, 104, of Duluth, died Monday August 27, 2018 at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on December 24, 1913 to Sigurd A. Rhode and Agnes Berg Rhode in Duluth. Mr. Rhode attended Duluth Public Schools, graduating from Central High School in 1932. He attended Duluth Junior College and received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1937 from the University of Minnesota. In May of 1940 he married Elizabeth T. Tennant. From that union four children were born. Mr. Rhode was involved in railroad engineering for 41 years, 30 of which were with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. He began his railroad career on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha Railroad in St. Paul after graduation. He worked as a chain man. He was employed by Ellerbe and Co., St. Paul; Clyde Iron Works, Duluth; and the Northern Pacific Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway) in multiple field locations from Missoula, Mont., to Seattle, Wash., during the war years. In 1948 he began his service with the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway where he served as Chief Engineer for 19 years. Major projects during this period included the design and construction of the taconite-handling facility adjacent to the Duluth ore docks; the Two Harbors unique ore thawing shed using infra-red heating; modernization of all old-style bridges on the Missabe; and track upgrades to accommodate current loading. He retired from the D.M.&I.R. in 1978.
Mr. Rhode was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served on their national board of directors for several years. He was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and served on the committee concerned with the rolling of steel railroad rail. In 1956 he served on the mayor's task force on development of the major highway plan through the City of Duluth.
Mr. Rhode was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children and was one of the incorporators of the United Development Activity Center (UDAC) as well as on the Goodwill board for several years when their activity was expanded with the purchase of their present facility. He was a member of the Lake Superior Council of Boy Scouts. Mr. Rhode was a member of Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) and a former trustee. He was a member of the Kitchi Gammi Club, Rotary, the Duluth Valley of the Scottish Rite, and the Sons of Norway Duluth Nortun Lodge 1-016.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd and Agnes; wife Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1979; and his brother Richard S. Rhode in 2008.
He is survived by his children Peter (Mary) of Roseville, Minn., Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, Minn., Christopher of Duluth, Minn. and a daughter Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, Ill., 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the staffs of Mount Royal Pines III and Marywood at the Benedictine Health and Rehabilitation Center for their care and concern for Mr. Rhode.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the Duluth Regional Care Center, 5629 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN 55807, the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, 28 W 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802 or Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St., Duluth, MN 55812.
Visitation will be held on Monday September 17, 2018 at Pilgrim Congregational Church (UCC) 2310 E. 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812 from 10 AM until the 11 AM Funeral Service. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.
Obituary from the American Society of Civil Engineers:
ASCE's Oldest Active Member Dies at 104
Robert B. Rhode, ASCE's oldest active member, has died at the age of 104 in his hometown of Duluth, MN.
Rhode, P.E., L.S., F.ASCE, leaves a legacy of civil engineering accomplishments both in Duluth and with ASCE. He served as the Duluth Section president in 1953-54 and on ASCE's Board of Direction as the District 7 director 1980-82. Age didn't keep him from remaining active in ASCE, as he continued attending Section meetings in recent years well beyond his 100th birthday.
"He would come to literally every monthly section meeting," said Chris Rousseau, P.E., M.ASCE, himself a former Duluth Section president and Region 3 governor.
"Every time we had a technical presentation, he always had at least one question for the presenter. He always had something to say.
"He wanted to be there, always supportive, always interested in what we were doing. Just a very affable, very welcoming guy. And he loved the organization, that was very clear."
Born on Christmas Eve 1913, Rhode joined ASCE in 1937 after receiving his degree in civil engineering that year from the University of Minnesota. He worked for the Omaha Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad, before beginning a 40-year career with the Duluth Mesabi and Iron Range Railroad in 1948.
"His family recalls his dedication during his tenure with the DM&IR," Rousseau wrote of Rhode in a member profile for the Duluth Section. "He selflessly, on many occasions, responded to late night calls to address emergency situations including derailments. Many of his engineering accomplishments still remain in service including railroad bridges and the DM&IR loading docks with which he had design involvement."
Rhode earned ASCE Life Member status in 1978 before current Society younger members were even born. He had been named an ASCE Fellow in 1966.
He also was a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, and was involved in the local and state associations for developmentally challenged children.
Robert married Elizabeth Tennant Rhode in 1940, and they raised four children together before her passing in 1979. He is survived by those children, Peter (Mary) of Roseville, MN, Richard (Martha) of St. Paul, MN, Christopher of Duluth, MN, and Katherine (Peter) Cassioppi of Rockford, IL, six grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Just last year, the Duluth Section honored Rhode as part of its centennial celebration.
"As a Section, I think we were incredibly blessed to have him," Rousseau said.
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