Robert "Bob" Keith Barnes

Robert “Bob” Keith Barnes, age 63, died in Rochester, Minnesota, on Friday, September 5, 2025, when the pain of life became too difficult to bear. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on December 2, 1961, he became the son of Keith and Sharon (Christofferson) Barnes of Austin.

Bob attended Austin elementary school and graduated from Austin High School in 1980. He then went to Austin Vocational School (now Riverland College) and completed a two year welding program. During his over 30 year career as a welder, he worked for many different companies in the area.

Those who knew Bob saw that he was a talented, creative person who could fix just about anything and create almost anything out of scrap materials. In recent years, he taught himself and enjoyed playing the guitar. He enjoyed being with friends.

Bob is survived by his son, Ryan of Austin; granddaughter, Emara of Austin; parents, Keith and Sharon Barnes of Austin; sister, Mary Iverson of North Mankato; nephew, Samuel Iverson of St. Paul; niece, Rachel Iverson of Santa Barbara, California; aunts and uncle, Phyllis Paulson, and Mary and Jim Herrick, all of Austin; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sarah Barnes; grandparents, Wayland and Virginia Barnes, and Raymond and Esther Christofferson; aunts and uncles, Marilyn and Bill Robertz of St. Peter, Delores and Ron Moe of Austin, Tom Paulson of Austin, Barbara and Tim Deatherage of Wichita Falls, Texas; and cousins, Todd Deatherage, Amanda Deatherage Folden, and Michael Paulson.

The memorial service for Bob will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the family for an education fund for his granddaughter, Emara. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.