Robert (Bob) Brockmann

Robert “Bob” Brockmann, age 80, of Fort Myers, FL, and Rochert, MN, passed away Tuesday, September 15, at his home on Cotton Lake.

Bob was born on July 16, 1946, in Fairmont, MN, the son of Albert and Viola “Rose” (Anderson) Brockmann, older brother to Judi (Leet). He built a life through a combination of hard work and luck, attracting people with his curiosity, smile, story-telling abilities, and huge heart.

Recognizing his intellect, his teachers encouraged him to attend college. Heeding their advice, Bob graduated with degrees in math and physics from Bemidji State in 1968 and began a long teaching career in Tracy, MN - including an early one-year teaching assignment in Japan.

Bob met Linda Schmidt during his junior year in college, where his eventual brother-in-law, Blace and wife, Myrna, also attended. The four became good friends. Bob and Linda married in 1970 and had three sons by 1978. To support his young and growing family Bob worked two part-time jobs in addition to teaching, including refereeing many a contentious basketball game.

In 1985, Bob took a teaching job in Ulm, Germany, for the Department of Defense Dependent School System. The next 22 years took the Brockmanns to additional opportunities in Bonn, Germany and Okinawa, Japan. During his career, Bob touched countless students’ lives and helped his colleagues while serving as a teacher’s representative for the teachers’ union.

One of Bob’s passions was travel with his family - though often at as low of a price point as he could convince others to allow. In the early years in Germany this often-included overnight bus trips to Eastern Europe. He explored all seven continents and eventually lost the battle with Linda about the manner in which they travelled. Trips to India, South Africa, and Singapore were among his favorites.

Bob and Linda retired 2006, first to beloved Cotton Lake and eventually to Fort Myers, FL, to escape Minnesota winters. Bob became an ace on the pickleball court, earning him the well-deserved nickname “Pickleball Bob,” which highlighted his amazing ability to make new friends of everyone he met. In Minnesota he enjoyed pulling his grandchildren behind the speed boat, tinkering in his garage, and looking for the next great bargain.

Bob was especially close to his family. Linda was his best friend, and they did most everything together. He was proud of the lives all three sons made. He was a regular, loved, and often loud presence at his grandaughters’ athletic events. He also thoroughly enjoyed catching up with his grandson and learning about the new exotic pets he raised.

Bob is survived by Linda and their three sons: Jeff (Shane), Todd (Nancy) and Mark (Ellie) and four devoted and cherished grandchildren: Devin, Lauryn, Nora and Hailey.

Visitation will be Monday, September 21, 2026, at 10:00am.  Funeral Service will follow at 11:00am at the Congregational Church in Detroit Lakes.