Obituary: Robert Cashel
Robert Cashel, also known as William Albert McDermott, was born on a farm near the Blue Mounds north of Luverne, MN, on April 28, 1929, the son of Laurence McDermott and Ruth Gertz McDermott.
- Cashel
Robert Cashel, also known as William Albert McDermott, was born on a farm near the Blue Mounds north of Luverne, MN, on April 28, 1929, the son of Laurence McDermott and Ruth Gertz McDermott. His parents were divorced and he moved to Worthington with his mother in 1932. His name was changed to Robert Cashel when he attended Worthington elementary school.
Bob graduated from Worthington High School in 1947, then attended Worthington Community College. He was in a Navy recruit program directly out of high school but later enlisted in the Air Force and served from 1948 until 1950. Bob and Marion Cashel were married December 23, 1949, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Bob joined the Worthington Co. I unit of the MN National Guard and was called to active duty for the Korean Conflict in December 1950. He served at Camp Rucker, AL until his discharge as an SFC in December 1952.
In January 1953, he was employed as an administrative and supply technician for the local Minnesota National Guard unit (Co. I) He was later appointed a Chief Warrant Officer and promoted to administrator for Headquarters Co. of the 3rd Battle Group, 135th Infantry. He subsequently achieved the rank of CWO3. During the Vietnam War, the local headquarters of the Battle Group was designated as a Strategic Reserve Force and selected members of the organization performed National Guard duty two weekends a month.
Bob also served as a deputy registrar for the Selective Service System while at the local Armory. From 1953 until 1986, he was a contact person for the American Red Cross Service to Military Families Dept., sending and receiving emergency messages for military personnel all around the world. For his professional work as well as his volunteer work he earned a Meritorious Service Award from the MN Army National Guard. Bob retired from the National Guard after 21 years of service.
Bob joined the news staff of the Worthington Daily Globe in 1969, serving as a reporter, city editor, county editor, business editor, columnist and also wrote the Turk O’ Day column for many years. He also served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Turkey Day committee. Bob was designated the Honorary Turkey for the Turkey Day parade and other events in 1998. He was a 59-year member of the Worthington Calvin-Knuth American Legion Post #5.
Bob died Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Sanford Worthington Medical Center in Worthington, MN.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, mother, three half-sisters, Mary Osen, Janet Koster and Jane Nemmers, and one half-brother, Nicholas Weyker.
Survivors include his wife, Marion, Worthington; children, Susan Suby (Floyd Egner III), Safety Harbor, FL, Steve Cashel, Billings, MT, LeAnn Baumann, Madison Lake, MN, Tom Cashel, Byron, MN, and Rosemary Pilatti, Kenai, AK; two half-brothers, Douglas (Betty Ann) McDermott, Morris, IL, and Jim Weyker, Minneapolis; seven grandchildren, TR (Amy) McCormick, Lakewood, WA, Joshua (Jessica) Suby, Lakeville, MN, Emily (Jeremy) Flitter, Mankato, MN, Alex (Hannah) Baumann, Mankato, Tyler Baumann, (Amanda Hirmer) Matawan, MN, Tony Baumann, (Amanda Eccles) N. Mankato, and Thomas Pilatti, Anchorage, AK; 10 great-grandchildren, Carter, Mason and Karla McCormick, Kale, Brody and Jaylen Suby, Jaden Froehlich, Spencer and Asher Flitter and Olivia Baumann.
Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington, MN, with Father Jim Callahan officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Worthington.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington.
Memorials may be sent to the local Calvin-Knuth American Legion Post #5.
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