Robert John Urbick

Robert John Urbick

Robert John Urbick, 75 of Duluth, died suddenly of cardiac arrest on December 2, 2018 at Essentia St. Mary's after completing very intense treatment for cancer. Bob was born October 17, 1943 in Nashwauk, MN to Clifford and Rose Urbick. Bob's father died before he was born and he was raised for a time by his loving uncle and aunt, Stanley and Lucy Urbick. He graduated from Nashwauk High school and went on to receive his BS and Master's degrees in Education from UMD, where he played for the University's football team. After college, Bob went on to teach in the Duluth Public Schools for over 50 years and spent the last several teaching at Duluth East High School. He met his wife, Patti, while they were both teaching, quickly fell head over heels, and they married on April 28, 1984.

Bob loved to teach and had an enduring passion for education and his students. He was a lifelong student himself and spent a lot of his time reading everything from physics journals and articles on NASA to crosswords and the dictionary. He was a devoted family man who enjoyed hunting and the outdoors, cooking and feeding everyone, designing and building anything, dancing (especially to Elvis), and walking his dogs. Bob had a "larger than life" personality that was perhaps only surpassed by his immense generosity and kind heart. His sense of humor, wisdom, and unique perspective will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Rose; his aunt and uncle who cared for him, Stanley and Lucy; brother, Douglas and his daughter, Sarah.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Patti; children, Joe and his children, Kiyana and Adalyn; Jillian and her children, Skylar, Kalyssa and Carson; Jessica; Susan (Dan) Brown and their daughters, Baylee and Madalyn; and Nic and his son, Jasper. Bob is also survived by his faithful shih tzu , "Jack".

A memorial will be held on Friday, December 14th at the Proctor Area Community Center 100 Pionk Drive, Proctor, MN 55810 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

Memorials are preferred and may be directed to Animal Allies, 4006 Airport Rd., Duluth, MN 55811. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805, (218) 727-3555.