Robert F. "Bob" Cone

Funeral services for Robert "Bob" F. Cone, 85, of Fairmont, MN, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 9, 2024, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fairmont. Burial will be held following the service at Lakeside Cemetery with full military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post #36 and the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 8, 2024, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont and will continue one hour prior to the time of service at the church. Bob passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Robert "Bob" Fredrick Cone was born on November 11, 1938, in Alta, IA, the middle of three boys to parents, Ross and Adeline (Mangold) Cone. As a young boy, the family made the move to a farm near Pilot Grove, MN. Bob attended school in East Chain and graduated from East Chain High School.
In 1957, Bob felt a sense of duty to his county and enlisted in the reserves. In 1960, he furthered that commitment and enlisted with the United States Marine Corp where he served his county proudly on the USS Yorktown (CVS 10) Aircraft Carrier. On July 6, 1962, Bob received his honorable discharge and returned home to the family farm near Pilot Grove.
On February 2, 1963, Bob was united in marriage to Janet L. Larson at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fairmont, MN. The couple made their home on the family farm near Pilot Grove and welcomed home their three sons, Bobby, Brad and Dave. In 1975, the family moved off the farm and into Fairmont.
Bob loved life on the farm where he raised Black Angus cattle and outside hogs in addition to grain farming in his early years. Later in his farming career, Bob focused solely on grain farming. In 2020, Bob "retired" after 57 years of farming and let his sons, Brad and Dave take the reins of the farming operation. In his retirement, Bob could often still be found helping with fieldwork and offering advice to his sons.
Bob was strong-willed but had an incredibly kind heart. In his youth, he found a passion for boxing and was a Golden Glove Champion. The opportunity to box continued in the military where he fought numerous fights and grew his reputation. After returning home, Bob continued boxing with Golden Glove Boxing until 1968, when he hung up his gloves. Bob understood the value of a hard day's work and passed that on to his family, while remembering to also make room for fun. He was incredibly proud of his service in the Marine Corp, loved his country and was a true patriot! Bob and Jan had an incredible bond and were blessed to celebrate over 61 years of marriage. In his later years after his arthritis caused the crippling of his hands, the couple worked together on the farm with Jan being Bob's hands for things he couldn't do. Family was very important to Bob, and he would often call to check in on his children and grandchildren to see how their day was going, visit about what was happening in their world, and to wish them well. Bob was a proud member of the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post #36, the Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1222, and a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fairmont.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Jan Cone; children, Bob (Nicole) Cone, Brad (Vonnie) Cone, and Dave (Karen) Cone; grandchildren, Dylan Cone, Mathew Cone, Logyn Cone, Kamara (Eddy) Olson, Tyler Harder (fiancée, Bobbi Jo Sandberg), and Haley Harder (fiancé, Jared Green); brothers, Jim (Ronda) Cone and Dr. Roger Cone; sister-in-law, Sue (Lynn) Schmidt; brothers-in-law, Chuck (Jan) Larson and Ken (Kathy) Larson; nieces and nephews, Ted (Lynette) Cone, Lisle (Dave) Schocker, Sara Cone, Rachel (Jeff) Miller, Katie (Daryl) Schulz, Pat (Wes) Winnekins, Steve (Lisa) Cone, Jenny Valeski, Jamie (David) Markle, Mike Schmidt, Matt Schmidt, Chad (Sadie) Larson, Blake (Alyssa) Larson, Jessica (Scott) Kinsey, Ross Larson, Kaleigh Humphrey, and Reilly Humphrey; as well as many other extended family and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Adeline Cone; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Eddy and Hazel Larson; and two sisters-in-law, Signe Cone and Jan Larson.