Robert W. Leininger

Age 87, of Roseville, Minnesota, was called to his Lord peacefully on October 9th, 2020 in the presence of loved ones. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Phyllis; children, Anna (Greg Kramer), John (Jennifer Hengelfelt), James (Mei Chen), and Jeffrey (Rachel). He is fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Mia, Aaron and Zoe; Alexander and Tyler; Catherine and Jacob; and Grace and Andrew as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.​Bob, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, was a true Midwestern boy, born in McNutt, Saskatchewan to Rev. Walter E. and Helen R. Leininger and raised on the plains of North Dakota in Binford and Kensal, with his sisters Dorothy, Lois, Rosemary and Estelle. Bob dedicated his life to Christian ministry through music and the education of young people. Known simply as “Chief” to students at Concordia University in St. Paul, for 20 years Bob directed numerous choirs and ensembles in the community, creating music that brought joy, tenderness and the peace of God to all those who heard it. Later, he helped to broaden students’ minds by serving also as a Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, teaching the great texts of western literature.​A continuous source of joy for Bob was his log cabin in Ely, Minnesota. Built with his own hands, and shared with generations, “the island” as he called it, was a perfect outlet for his love of nature and skills as a handyman. It provided hours of quiet listening, deep reading, or simply contemplating life in the warmth of a fire-lit sauna.  ​We celebrate both his life and the gift of eternal life given to him in the promise of the Resurrection.   A private service will be held at King of Kings Lutheran Church on Friday, October 16th.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to King of Kings Lutheran School Scholarship Fund or the Concordia – St. Paul Fine Arts Scholarship Fund.  “My Loved Ones Rest Securely   For God this night will surely   From peril guard your heads.   Sweet slumbers may he send you   And bid his hosts attend you   And through the night watch o’er your beds.”​