Willard Sulem Robbins

Robbins, Willard Sulem (Will)
Willard Sulem Robbins, Age 99, of Mpls, passed away March 27, 2025. Will was born and raised in Minneapolis by his parents Vearn and Pearl Robbins. Will enlisted in the U.S. Navy two days before his 18th birthday in 1944, and served 23 months of sea duty on an ocean tug in the Aleutian Islands of the North Pacific during WWII. After the war, he met his wife Blanche "Dolly" and they were married for 76 years.
Will was a realtor and broker beginning in the early 1950s, which led to owning Lyndale Realty located on the corner of Lyndale and Lake in Minneapolis. Will was known throughout South and Southwest Mpls as the "calendar guy." Each December, thousands of calendars were delivered by neighborhood kids to area homes - compliments of Lyndale Realty- with a picture of the homeowner's specific house. From the beginning of his career, Will was involved in positively improving the real estate industry in Minnesota and was instrumental in its growth today. He was a past president of the Real Estate Exchangers Club.
Will was active in many community organizations and especially fond of his years of involvement with the Lions club of Minneapolis and membership in the VFW. He was a longtime supporter of youth hockey and other sports. He was a football coach for the Pershing Park and Minneapolis Boys club teams, an enthusiastic SWHS Hockey Booster, and president of the Southwest football quarterback club in 1982.
An avid fisherman, Will enjoyed fishing in Minnesota and also took regular trips to Lake Michigan and Canada. Will and Dolly always enjoyed playing cards together and with others... often playing (and winning) at whist, 500, cribbage, and pinochle. They enjoyed many family trips in the early years out west or north several times a year to visit relatives, which were followed in later years by frequent trips to Las Vegas and Laughlin, NV.
Will is survived by his wife of 76 years, Blanche (Dolly); children Doug (April), Anne (Steve) Holloway, and Rich (Kelly); grandchildren Laura, Dianne, Mike, Chelsea, and Caleb; five great-grandchildren Maya, Laurin, Skylee, Joanna, and Ellie; sister Carol Smith; and many other relatives and friends. A special thanks to the kind neighbors of Forest Drive -especially the Kegley family-Gramercy Park and everyone associated with the Minneapolis VA.
Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5 at Washburn McReavy Chapel, 2300 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington at 2PM. Visitation 1PM.
To attend the funeral virtually please go to https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc0MzUyMjQ4MjM1NjYwMSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==
Private Interment Fort Snelling at a later date.
Memorials to Lake Harriet United Methodist Church or donor choice.