Robert Danielson

Robert B. Danielson, 84, of Oakland died Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at Oakland Heights in Oakland.

He was born Oct. 23, 1924, in Oakland to Charles O. and Anna (Jensen) Danielson. He attended Oakland schools, graduating in 1943. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on Aug. 13, 1943. In August 1944, he went to Europe to do aerial battle with the Germans, serving as a tail gunner on a B17 with the 351st Bomb Group, 511 Squadron during World War II. On Dec. 6, 1944, he was in a battle with 150 German fighter planes. He got 13 of them - six kills and seven probables. He ended up with shrapnel imbedded in his leg. He spent nine months in the hospital before being honorably discharged on Sept. 28, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was nominated for the Distinguished Flying Cross.

He married Frelon A. Larsen on June 20, 1954, in rural Oakland. They made their home in Oakland, where he was a self-employed carpenter for 60 years. He also worked at the Barnes Honey Plant.

He was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland. After his marriage, he joined the West Side Methodist Church, where he held many offices within the church. He currently was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Oakland. He also served as the head of the Lenten Prayer Breakfast for over 30 years.

He was a member of the Ryan Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5543, American Legion Post 46 and the Oakland Lions Club. In June 2007, he was the runner-up for the king of the Swedish Festival.

Survivors include: his wife; a daughter, Barb (and husband, Stan) Harney of Craig; sisters, Dolores Johnson of Lyons, Bonnie (and husband, John) Ling of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Mae Wedergren of Oakland; two sisters-in-law, Mary Danielson of West Point and Ilene (and husband, Don) Hayes of Lyons; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by five sisters and two brothers.

The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Oakland with the Revs. Richard Karohl and Richard Tiggelaar officiating. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. today at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. A prayer service will be 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time Tuesday at the church. Military honors will be conducted by Ryan VFW Post 5543 and American Legion Post 46. Burial will be in Westside Cemetery in rural Oakland at a later date.

Memorials have been established to Oakland First United Methodist Church, Oakland Public Library and Oakland Lions Club.