Dr. Robert "Bob" Kohl, 82 of Brookings,  died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at his home in Brookings under Hospice Care as he struggled with Parkinson's Disease.

 Robert Alvin Kohl was born Jan. 22, 1936, at Harvey. Illinois to Herbert and Lillian (Dettmering) Kohl.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.  Bob grew up on a dairy farm near Matteson, Illinois where he was active in his local 4-H Club.  He graduated from Bloom Twp. High School in Chicago Heights in 1954.  Bob went on to get a Bachelor's Degree from Purdue University, a Master's and Ph.D. from Utah State University.  He also studied at the international Cooperation Center at Montana State University and spent a quarter in Mexico.  His final study was a mission school at St. Louis, Missouri.

 He married Elaine Hagenow on Aug. 25, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westville, Indiana.  He and Elaine served as lay missionaries for a three year tour in Nigeria with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  Because of health problems, they could not return so Bob took a job with the Agricultural Research Service in Kimberly, Idaho where he worked with irrigation.  He elected to leave there in 1975 because the insecticide used there was toxic to his family.  In 1976 he became a faculty member in the Plant Science Department at SDSU.  He retired twelve years ago. Until two years ago he lived on a farm six miles south of Brookings.  Since then he resided near his daughter, Kysa on the Gilkerson compound on 34th Avenue.

 Bob was active in church all his life: first in the Missouri Synod, then the Nazarene Church and the Wesleyan Church.  He joined Calvary Free Lutheran Church soon after it was organized.  Later he served as a national officer on the Mission Board.  He enjoyed teaching Sunday School and Bible studies and especially liked to teach Genesis and Revelation.   He taught two summer sessions at the AFLC Seminary in Minneapolis.

 Bob is survived by his wife of sixty one years, Elaine; a daughter, Kysa (Jim) Gilkerson of Brookings, sons, Dr. Kris (Kelly) Kohl of Storm Lake, Iowa; Dr. David (Shirley) Kohl of Palmdale, California; and Dr. Clinton (Susan) Kohl of Cedarville, Ohio; 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, his sister, Sharon Duehr of Frankfort, Illinois.

 He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Leslie.

 Funeral services for Dr. Kohl will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at the Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Arlington, SD with Pastor Aaron Olson officiating, burial will be in the Arlington City Cemetery, Arlington.  Visitation will be on Friday, December 14, 2018 from 6-9 pm in the church and preceding services.

 The family request that memorials be directed to The Association Retreat Center, 2372 30th Ave, Osceola. WI 54030-5927

 The Johnson-Henry Funeral Home of Arlingtonis in charge of arrangements.