Robert Harry Ekstrand

Bob spent his early years in West Roxbury, MA until a house was built for the family in Norwood, MA by their very talented church and VASA friends. Bob graduated from Norwood High School and attended Bentley College in Boston earning an Associate’s degree in Management. He met his first wife, Ann, while at Bentley. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam war era and was on active duty for 6 years, 6 months and 10 days, something that he was very proud of. He did not have to serve in Viet Nam but was stationed in the USA and England over those years. After his Honorable Discharge, he attended Johnson and Wales University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management, cum laude. Bob and his wife, Marlene, met in 1995 and immediately knew they were soulmates.They joyfully married at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Shrewsbury in the fall of that year. They lived in Worcester and Bob was still managing hotels until his first stroke in 2002. After his recovery he worked as a Therapeutic Recreation Assistant at the nursing facilities where Marlene worked until his retirement in 2016. Bob joined Nordic Lodge, Vasa Order of America, on June 21, 2001, following in the footsteps of his parents. He was an active member of the lodge, serving as Assistant Master of Ceremonies for several years even after his stroke. Bob loved his furry and hairy “kids” and over the years opened his home and heart to six cats and one dog. He loved all of them, but particularly Emmy, a cat who lived for 18 years and chose Bob as her human. Certainly she was there to greet him when he arrived in Heaven. Bob recovered sufficiently from his second more serious stroke in March of 2019 to allow him to be care for at home by Marlene until the fall of 2020 when he required long term care. He was hospitalized from January 11 until his discharge to the Lutheran Home late on the week prior to his death. He died on February 4, 2025 at the Lutheran Home of Worcester.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene, a brother Ralph in Virginia, a nephew Jeffrey in Maine, his cousin Kenneth in Wisconsin and his very close friends Katie and Bud whom he called his sister and brother.

Services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Auburn, MA on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11:00am followed by a burial in All Faiths Cemetery. Collation to be held back at the church.