Layne Robert (Bob) Retzlaff

Bob Retzlaff passed away on 9/30/2025 surrounded by the love of family and friends both near and abroad.

Born in 1931 in Faribault MN, Bob graduated from Faribault High School in 1949. During his time at FHS he was a multi-sport athlete in baseball, basketball and his favorite pastime: golf. He participated in yearbook and got his start in photography and journalism while writing stories for the high school newspaper.

While in Faribault, Bob enlisted in the US Army Reserves in January of 1951 and achieved the rank of Master Sargent with the 328th Ordnance Company. His unit was activated for the Berlin crisis and was transferred to Ft. Polk Louisiana in October 1961. In 1962, his unit was transferred back to Faribault and in February 1963 he was honorably discharged.

During his 70-year newspaper career, he worked at 2 newspapers: the Faribault Daily News in Faribault, Mn from 1949 to 1959 and the Rochester Post Bulletin in Rochester, Mn from 1959 to 2019. During his tenure at the Faribault Daily News, Bob married Sandra Lorge, who was the society editor, on 9/26/1959. They were married for 40 years until her passing in May of 2000. They had two children together and 4 amazing grandchildren.

At the Faribault Daily News, he was a reporter and photographer and then promoted to sports editor. During his tenure at the PB he worked as a general reporter, then promoted to news editor and finally to managing editor. He then transitioned to his "retirement job" as travel editor, and then travel writer, until finally fully retiring from the PB in 2019.

Bob and Sandy traveled the world together, mostly on group cruises he hosted through the PB. Together they stepped foot on every continent at least once. He sailed on each of the seven seas and in one year he walked along the arctic circle in the spring and threw a snowball in Antarctica that fall. He visited many of the ancient and modern world wonders and experienced the life and culture of countries throughout the world. He also traveled to every state in the US.

In the articles he wrote for the PB on his travels and adventures, Bob would describe the people, culture, and cuisine he experienced. These words would entice readers to come along on their next trip with him and Sandy, thereby sharing his love of travel with new friends.

Bob was an avid member of St. Luke's Episcopal church in Rochester. He participated in and served on a multitude of civic organizations and committees which helped shape the growth of Rochester at a time when this city was becoming a center-point of technology, medicine, and commerce in the Mid-West.

Bob's life was made up of so much more than the highlights and successes that you read here, it was also made of the trials and tribulations that got him there. The failures that he learned from, which lead him to successes, and all the things in between. With the love and support of family and friends Bob led an amazing, fulfilling, and satisfying life. Later, with the compassionate care he received from his Mayo Clinic physicians, the staff at Prelude Homes in Woodbury, Cottagewood Senior Community in Rochester, and Mayo Hospice, Bob's final years were lived in comfort.

To say that he will be missed is an understatement, especially by his family and friends. The stories he wrote about people, places and things will live on thanks to the internet age we live in, but his influence, knowledge, respect, and humility have been passed on to everyone he loved and met.

A celebration of life will take place at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 4:00-6:00pm.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Retzlaff family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com