Robert C. Higgins

It is with great sadness and even greater joy that we announce the passing of our beloved Dad, Robert Clifford Higgins.

Bob, a flaming red-haired boy, was born May 4, 1931 in Kenosha, WI to Clifford and Elma Higgins.  The family soon added another flaming red-head, Bob's sister Dorothy Jean, and moved to Minneapolis, MN.  Bob was a city kid and attended private Catholic schools, where he developed his strong faith and made numerous life-long friends.  He loved to recount stories from his youth, such as the fun he had riding his bike all over town, and an adventure he had with his grade school best friend Leo O'Brien, where they got into some trouble riding through the long halls of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Following his high school graduation from De LaSalle, Bob's mother Elma died suddenly and tragically from a seizure and accidental drowning. At age 18, and the one to discover her body, Bob was devastated.  He soon joined the Navy at the same time as his good friends Leo O'Brien and Jim Hinton.  A kind and gentle man, not entirely suited for killing, Bob served as a secretary on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War, traveling the world.

After his honorable discharge, Bob obtained his Bachelor's Degree with a major in History at the University of MN.  He worked his way through college as a manager at the National T grocery store.  He loved to swing dance and even won a Lindy Hop "Dance 'Til You Drop" marathon.  At a Dominic's Club dance for Catholics, Bob found the girl of his dreams, Josephine Walsh, a nurse.  She soon brought her "red-headed Easter Bunny" to meet her large family, who embraced him as the humorous, generous, loving man that he was.

Within months of meeting, the couple were married at the Church of the Assumption in Richfield, MN on July 12, 1958.  Robert became a traveling salesman for American Hospital Supply and his beloved "Jo" retired from nursing to become a homemaker and mother.  Finding that they could not have biological children, the couple adopted, in succession, within five years, a daughter, Josephine (Jodi), sons, Robert Charles and Martin Michael, and daughter, Mary Martha (Mollie).  Bob and Jo shared their joyous love of family, Catholic faith and love of traveling on the road, piling into the station wagon along with pets for family vacations.  Dad and Mom both amused us by singing funny, old fashioned songs.

For 14 years years the family lived in Belleville, IL, across the Mississippi River from Bob's home office in St. Louis, MO.  The couple both sang in the church choir and enjoyed going to dances at the Catholic school to which they sent their kids.  All of us kids remember Mom and Dad dancing in our living room for practice.  Dad and Mom enjoyed gardening and Dad would wear his old white sailor cap, still, while hoeing to protect his fair, freckled skin.

In the late 70's, during the lean years of recession, Dad's territory was cut and cut, as he refused, by principle, to sell abortion equipment.  The family moved back "home" to Minneapolis, where Dad eventually found his way into selling men's suits; very appropriately, as he was always a sharp dresser himself.

The couple became grandparents and regular babysitters.  And eventually great grandparents.  How they loved and nurtured us all! When his beloved Jo passed from Alzheimer's and pneumonia, Dad was devastated again.  His own health declined dramatically, but he was determined to "stick around" to take care of his kids.  For his own health care needs, for the past five years, Dad lived at Jones Harrison Residence, again making himself endeared by many; and also still attending Mass at his church, Holy Family, which was close by.

The family would like to thank the incredibly caring staff at Jones Harrison and especially his nurses, Brenda and Megan, who loved and cared for him like daughters, when his own two were not available.  We would also like to thank the compassionate and professional staff of the CARE unit at HCMC, where Dad spent his last six days.  He had survived heart surgery, brain surgery, CVA's, pneumonia and Covid 19 during the past years, but even his enormous strength and will could not, in the end, defeat sepsis.

His family and friends will greatly miss his smile, his warm, loving nature, gift of gab and punny jokes.

And may perpetual light shine upon him.

Please indicate your desire to attend the visitation Thursday evening by clicking here.