Roberta "Bobbi" K. Stoetzel

Roberta K. “Bobbi” Stoetzel, 84, of Duluth, passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on Tuesday August 5, 2025, following her lengthy journey with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. She was born in Superior, WI on March 23, 1941, to Robert and Margaret Dietrick. She attended Stanbrook Hall high school and then the College of St. Scholastica, graduating in 1963. She wasted no time marrying Chuck, the love of her life, on July 6, 1963. This handsome Army officer whisked her off to Germany where their love for adventures began . They raised 4 children and edged their way back to beautiful Duluth to live near extended family. Family was her life! With her creativity and devotion, she was deemed “the hostess with the mostess, cherishing every Holiday. She found fulfillment spending several years as a pre-school caretaker at a Montessori School in Duluth and then becoming a wonderful nanny for several Duluth families.

Bobbi was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir and was active in the Women’s Faith in Motion and Renew groups. She also volunteered at the Damiano Center serving meals to the community. .The Tapestry of her life was clearly woven with beautiful threads of Love. She spent endless hours with family at their cabin at Long Lake in Cotton, MN. She loved to play scrabble on the pontoon. Music always surrounded her. You could find her humming as she went about her day. Surely, this love for singing was always in the air; at campfires, on road trips and even the Victory Choir, which was created for those with memory loss. She was such a beautiful soul. Her love for sewing found her making matching dresses for her young girls. Her love for cooking had everyone running to her home for her homemade lasagna! Her love for nature brought her on many hikes! In the quiet of winter, you would find her cross country skiing with family, and in those hot summer days, at Brighton Beach with all the children she could gather. Her greatest joy, by far, was being surrounded by the love and laughter of her closest friends, family, and especially her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Joanne Butler, daughter Julie Ann, and grandson Casey Stoetzel.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Clarence “Chuck” Stoetzel, children Terri (Brian Nelson) Schmitz, Annette (Steven) Tucker, Daniel (Lindsay), and Timothy, and by 12 grandchildren; Jake, Kayloni, Adam, Zack, Alissa, Zoe, Henry, Brianna, Julianna, Thomas, Kaitlyn, and Sophie, sister Wendy (Rich) Machmer, niece Amy, nephews (Chris and Bob), and 13 great grandchildren.

Visitation and a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday August 17, 2025, from 2PM to 4PM with a prayer service at 3:30PM in the Dougherty Funeral Home. Visitation continues Monday from 10AM until the 11AM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 1419 St. Benedict Street, Duluth, MN 55811. Burial will be in the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805. 218-727-3555.