Robert "Bob" James Cotant

Robert “Bob” James Cotant went to his heavenly home, singing and praising God, on February 9, 2023 at Grand Village in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Bob was born July 19, 1934 in Walker, Minnesota to George and Frances (Caryl) Cotant. After graduating from Laporte High School in 1952 he wanted to get away from the farm so he moved to Lindsay, California. He lived with his Aunt Virginia Caryl while attending the College of the Sequoias where he studied Engineering for a year. In May of 1955 he joined the US Army which would be his career for the next 9 years. This is where he found his love for troubleshooting computers. During a leave from the service, he met Lila Himes from Bemidji, Minnesota and they were married October 19, 1957. Though the marriage didn’t last, they did produce three wonderful children; Glen, Gary and Sandy – not all daughters like he had predicted in his high school yearbook!

After Bob was honorably discharged as a SSGT6 from the US Army in 1964, he went to work for Control Data Corporation in Roseville, Minnesota. He worked in their calibration lab for 26 years as a calibration technician. After retirement he moved back to Laporte where he had built a house on a section of the family farm. Bob loved building and was always willing to help others with their projects. Not only did he help his daughter build 4 houses, but he helped many family and friends with theirs!!!  When people had issues with their computer, they knew to call Bob and he would solve their problem. In his earlier years he loved flying, hunting and fishing, and the weekly card games with family. As he got older he spent a lot of time on the computer either troubleshooting or researching genealogy, and continued with the card games. His biggest joy was meeting the guys at the gas station every morning. He was so proud to be the first one there to open up and get the coffee started. He is missed by so many.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dale and Harold; sisters, Virginia Seegmiller, Mary Martin and Margaret Dewey; and nephews, Ronnie Seegmiller and Greg Sletten.

Surviving him are his sons, Glen (Mary) and Gary (Laurie Makinen); daughter, Sandy (Jeff) Bromenschenkel; grandchildren, Teshawna Cotant and Asa (Meg) and Emma Bromenschenkel; siblings, Pearl Sletten and Roy (Lori) Cotant; and many other relatives.

Funeral services for Bob will be Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with a one-hour visitation prior to the service, all to be held at the Community Bible Chapel in Laporte, MN. Joel Hamilton will officiate. Those helping to lay Bob to rest will be Roy Cotant, John Seegmiller, Jeff Bromenschenkel, Asa Bromenschenkel, Scott Kampfer, and Dwight Powell. Honorary pallbearers are Butch Dewey and Walt Renskers. Interment will follow in Lakeport Cemetery in Laporte, MN.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Grand Village and St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care of our dad. We couldn’t have done it without you! And thank you to Scott Kampfer and Joel Hamilton for being such great friends to dad.

Bob’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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