Robert Edlund
November 24, 1956 ~ July 22, 2025
Born in:
Albany, Georgia
Resided in:
Fargo, North Dakota
Robert’s service will be livestreamed below at 10 am, Monday, July 28, 2025
Robert LeRoy Edlund “Bob” “PeeWee” 11/24/1956 – 07/22/2025
Robert “Bob” LeRoy Edlund, 68, of Fargo, ND passed away peacefully on July 22nd, 2025, surrounded by his family and friends at Sanford Hospital ICU.
Bob was born on November 24, 1956, in Albany, Georgia to LeRoy and LoraLee (Busby) Edlund. He graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1975 and went on to attend Moorhead State. While there he double majored in English and Math while also participating in the ROTC. He graduated in early 1979 and in June of that same year he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Patricia LaRae Ranstad.
They settled in Lubbock, Texas for a time where Bob attended flight school. During his time in the Air Force, they made their home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Alamogordo, New Mexico; Ramstein, Germany; and other shorter stations for only a few weeks or months at a time. Later he decided to settle closer to home and join the Happy Hooligans, where he flew his beloved F-16 fighter jet. While in the Guard, he was able to work his way up to Lieutenant Colonel. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease led Bob to retire at age 40.
Bob loved fishing, hunting, being at the lake with family, gardening, being with his grandkids, and loved his animals deeply. Most recently, his cat, Otis Pete and prior to that his dog, Dazzle, a dog that brought so much joy to him and helped him on some of his hardest days. Dazzle’s ashes will be laid to rest with Bob’s at the burial so he will finally get to rest easy with his best friend.
He has survived by his wife, Patty; his children, Jeff (Mara) Edlund and Ashley (Lee) Pratschner; his four grandchildren, Eli and Maddex Pratschner and Evelyn and Phillip Edlund; his sister, Dawn; brother James; countless other family members and his many, many loving and fostered friendships.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents LeRoy and LoraLee Edlund; Richard and June Ranstad; and Blaise Pratschner.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, July 28, 2025 at Hope Lutheran Church North Campus with a visitation one hour prior. Committal with full military honors will follow at 1:00 pm at the Fargo National Cemetery.
Services
Visitation - Monday: July 28, 2025 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Hope Lutheran Church - North Campus
2900 Broadway N
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
(701) 235-6629
https://www.fargohope.org/
Memorial Service - Monday: July 28, 2025 10:00 am
Hope Lutheran Church - North Campus
2900 Broadway N
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
(701) 235-6629
https://www.fargohope.org/
Burial:
Fargo National Cemetery
8709 40th Avenue North, Co Rd 20
Harwood, North Dakota 58042
(701) 451-4650
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/fargo.asp
Nickel on the grass for a Fighter Pilot!
Pee Wee was that, 100%.
Godspeed my Friend.
Pee Wee was a great guy everyone loved at the Air Guard. The respect he was shown was mutual in every way. He will certainly be missed by all that knew him.
I’d like to sign the guest book and let you know I’m thinking of you during this time. I’m so sorry you have lost your husband and father and loved one. Peewee’s dedication to his family was one of the greatest things of his life. He was always positive and looking to excell in all that he did. He will be greatly missed.
Pee Wee was one of the finest Pilots and Officers I had the pleasure of knowing in my entire military career. He always treated us Enlisted men and women with respect. He was a great leader for our World Championship William Tell 94 team.
Aim High Pee Wee! God is waiting for you.
May God comfort you all as you go on without your dear loved one. It was a privelledge to deliver mail to your home for many years & school for Patty’s work. I got to know you all during that time.
Peewee you will be missed by everyone who knew you. You had the kindest heart and gentlest soul. You always had a smile on your face when we saw you no matter what you were going through. Patty, Jeff and Mara, Ashley and Lee and those precious grandbabies , we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Love you guys.
Pee Wee you are one of the best I got to work with in my 31 yrs in the military . After any visits work related or not I always left with a smile ,and after 10 minutes of hashing whose Engine problem it was, in debriefing, very seldom was it yours. But just in case it was yours, you always showed with a case of beer . You always treated the maintenance team with utmost respect, like your peers . You will always be thought of .
Gonna miss you man!
Loved flying with you and winning the Willy Tell 1994 championship. You were a great leader and fighter pilot.
RIP Brother,
Flattop
May you Rest in Peace, PeeWee, and May Patty & your family be comforted by all the prayers & love surrounding them. We hold many great memories being old neighbors & friends. – Doug & Julie Tollefson
To Patty, Jeff, and Ashley and the rest of your family. We are so sad to hear the passing of Peewee. He was best Man, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Fighter Pilot. Thinking of all of you and sending Ming prayers that you know that PeeWee will always be with you.Love Karen, Keri, and Ronnie🙏❤️