Robert "Bob" Pickering, Sr.

Bob Pickering, Sr. passed away on October 10 at the age of 87 after a short fight with pancreatic cancer. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, June; brother Douglas (Sherri); four children: Karen Cahow (Scott), Arlene Olson (Josh Landsman), Bob Jr. (Jordana), and Claire Torrey (Rick); nine grandchildren: Charles Cahow, Salem Cahow, Ashley Lundgren (Zack), Zachary Olson, Megan Pickering, Lillian Pickering, Bennett Pickering, Christopher Torrey, and Archer Torrey (Casey Kouba); many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Wayne.

Bob was an elite athlete, completing 21 triathlons, a master swimmer and bicyclist. He loved tennis, golf, and He taught many children how to swim, including all of his grandchildren, a myriad of neighbors and church friends. He was most proud of running the Get in Gear with four generations of his family, and completing a triathlon in a team with his daughter, granddaughter and brother.

Bob was known for his giant heart, generous spirit, and wicked sense of humor. He saw people who were isolated and made connections with them and between them, such as creating the TOFYG group at his church for families with elementary aged children, a Thanksgiving brunch for his running buddies (that grew and grew until it became the Thanksgiving 5K in downtown Minneapolis), and many other smaller, less noticeable but equally important connections.

Bob’s faith was paramount in his life. He wrote a weekly devotional to email to corporate friends that eventually became a book, “God is my Spinach” with an anniversary edition called “God is still my Spinach”, which eventually became a blog that reached around the world. He and June were Stephen Ministers for several years, reaching out to the grieving, ill, and hurting. He was active in his local church for 50 years, serving as lay leader, finance chair, and many other roles.

Bob’s legacy will be his giant heart, his generosity, and his love of people, all people, no matter who they were, what they looked like, or how they loved.

Memorial Service 11:00 AM Monday, October 19, 2026, at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, 7600 Harold Avenue, Golden Valley 55427. Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, at pancan.org.