Robert T. "Bob" Rupar

Age 72 of Forest Lake. Loving Husband, Dad, Grandpa & Brother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 17, 2023. Preceded in death by parents, Uste in-laws, George & Mary Raskovich. Survived by devoted wife of 50 years, Carol; sons, Aaron (Emily Kessler), Christopher, Andrew; grandchildren, Mia, Owen; siblings, Terry (Claire), Chuck (Rosie), Peggy (Michael) King, Marilyn (Ken) Dubner; brother-in-law, Mike (Maryanne) Raskovich, Brian (Beth) Raskovich; many nieces, nephews, other relatives & friends. Raised in Chisholm, Minnesota, Bob’s musical talents took him to Nashville and Los Angeles, where he performed with his band R&R (featuring his wife Carol on keyboards) and wrote a song that hit the country charts (“I’m Coming Down With Something”). When he returned to Minnesota, he shared his gifts as a beloved public school band teacher, teaching for 25 years out of his 39 year career at White Bear Lake’s Central Middle School. After retiring in 2011, he performed locally with Crossroads, a band made up entirely of retired teachers. He also volunteered at Forest Lake Public Schools (often working with Carol, a career band teacher there) and at his home church, Forest Lake’s Church of St. Peter. Bob was an extremely devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather who coached a number of his sons’ baseball and basketball teams — even winning a few championships along the way. He wrote theme songs for both of his grandchildren, with “Mia May That’s My Name” in particular becoming something of a hit on social media. His boys viewed him almost like a brother. But Bob also served as an example of how to behave with compassion and dignity, including during his 9.5-year battle with cancer, which he faced without self-pity and with unending courage — all the way through to his final breath. Bob was a man of faith who read scripture on a daily basis and filled notebooks with his favorites. The last one he jotted down was Psalm 27 — “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” His final musical project, a series of “Bobcasts” he posted on YouTube, is centered around the role prayer played in his life, through good times and tough ones too. The last of his nine “Bobcasts” will be released posthumously next month. Carol says that when he told her he was recording the finale, she had a feeling he might not be long for this world. Bob is already dearly missed by those he left behind — his family, friends, students, colleagues, and bandmates. But that immense grief is a reflection of who he was. To quote another of Bob’s favorite scriptures, Matthew 25:23, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” Bob’s life embodied that teaching, and he lives on through those who loved him and learned from him. Visitation 4-8 PM Friday, June 23rd at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. Mass of Christian Burial 11 AM Saturday, June 24th with visitation beginning at 10 AM at Church of St. Peter, 1250 S. Shore Dr., Forest Lake.