Robert C. Westlund

Robert (Bob) Carl Westlund passed away peacefully on November 30, 2024, at the age of 81. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Bob loved nothing more than spending time with his family, whether coaching his children’s teams, fishing with his grandchildren, or enjoying the large family gatherings over the Fourth of July at the family cabin in northern Minnesota.

Born on February 16, 1943, in St. Paul, Minnesota to George Warren Westlund and Alice Maurine Westlund Kaupp, Bob graduated from North High School in Des Moines in 1961, and went on to attend Parsons College and Drake University, graduating from Drake with a degree in Business in 1965.

Bob was first married to Julieanne (Julie) Eve Thorsheim, his high school sweetheart, until her passing in 1999. In 2002, he married the second love of his life, Nancy J. Helgerson, who survives him.

Bob served in the Army from 1966 to 1968 as an Army Specialist E5, primarily at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Upon his discharge, Bob and Julie moved to southern California where Bob began a long career in finance. Bob transitioned back to Des Moines with the broker-training program for Dean Witter & Reynolds, later becoming branch manager at Piper Jaffray & Hopwood, and later at Raymond James until his retirement in 2010.

Throughout his life, Bob was known as a kind-hearted soul who loved helping others however he could, from providing professional financial advice, to mentorship, to giving back to the community through leadership positions within his church and Goodwill Industries.

Bob is survived by his wife Nancy H. Westlund, his son John (Anne) Westlund and children Emma and Sam, daughter Elizabeth Westlund and son Forest, son David (Mandy) Westlund and children Emilia, Alena and Wyatt, daughter Katie (Jason) Thrasher and children Chance, Charlie, and Alice, daughter Sarah (Zach) Brummel and children Hunter and Parker, daughter Katherine (Sam) Worley, sister-in-law Breta (Bill) Westlund, and sister-in-law Linda (Joe) Davidson. Bob was preceded in death by his parents George Warren Westlund and Alice Maurine Westlund Kaupp, brother Warren “Bill” Westlund, sister Linda Marie Westlund and his first wife Julieanne Eve Westlund.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday December 21st at Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in Des Moines with a visitation beginning at 10:00am, followed by a funeral service at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capitol Hill Lutheran Church or the American Parkinson's Disease Association of Iowa.

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