Robert “Bert” Bixby Neuenschwander, age 67 of Delano, Minnesota, passed away suddenly on Friday, August 6, 2021, joining his Lord and Savior whom he served all his life. He was born August 12, 1953 to Robert and Kathleen (Bixby) Neuenschwander in Rapid City, South Dakota.

There were two types of people in every room that Bert walked into – those he knew and those that he was going to meet. His love of laughing was exceeded by a love of making people laugh, and the underlying thread of his behavior was always to serve others in any way he could. His sneezes echoed in every Costco he visited, and he always managed to know when someone was taking a picture (documented by his beaming face while everyone else is oblivious). His woodworking skills and love of photography have thankfully left plenty of mementos for those he leaves behind. He served the church in many ways, most visibly through performing in choir, singing and drama teams, and connecting with people. Quick to volunteer and an executer of tasks until the end, the community groups he participated with were a source of sheer joy. To those he interacted with, he was always ready to show his pride of his family by telling a story about his kids and grandkids, and was vocal about how lucky he was to have wooed his wife into marrying him and endeavored to show her he cherished her for 46 years. The only thing he might be judged for is passing first, when he’d committed to them going together.

Bert graduated from South Hills High School and went onto Whittier College where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He went on to careers in a variety of fields (as his talents and interests were many) before retiring from a long and happy time in Human Resources at Foster Farms in Livingston, California (where his colleagues were like a second family).

On June 7^th, 1975, Bert was united in marriage to Saundra “Sandi” L McConkey, as she was the love of his life and the rhythm of his heartbeat. They were blessed with two children Chip and Becky. His commitment to serving the Lord was shown first and foremost to his commitment to leading, loving and providing for his family, which later grew to include his three charming grandsons, Owen (7), Emmett (5), and Cole (3). They all have inherited his hambone, in addition to genetic looks, and they will serve as a tether to Bert by being a reminder of who he was through laughter and love.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Kathleen. He is survived by his wife Sandi; children Chip Neuenschwander and Becky (Matt) Masog, his grandsons Owen, Emmett and Cole Masog; siblings Nancy (Rick) Hom, Sylvia (Ken) Vogler, and Andrew (Janet) Neuenschwander; and other extended family, including mother-in-law Hazel McConkey and sister-in-law Vicki (Keith) Crawford.

As per Bert’s request, no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bert’s memory to the Building Fund for The Highlands Church. Online giving can be done at www.thehighlandsmn.com/give (with the giving type “Building Fund and Home Campaign”) and checks can be made payable to The Highlands Church specifying “Building Fund” in the memo (checks can be sent to The Highlands Church 1500 County Rd 24, Long Lake, MN 55356).

Memories and photos of Bert can be shared with family and friends by visiting bertneuenschwander.forevermissed.com.