White Bear Lake - 82, passed away peacefully on Feb. 4, 2026, at home in White Bear Lake, Minn. surrounded by loved ones. Born to Donald and Aune (Kortesmaki) Niemela on April 7, 1943 in Pine City, Minn., Bob earned his bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University and his master's degree from Mankato State University. He spent his career as a St. Paul Public Schools English teacher, first at Mounds Park Junior High, then at Harding High School where he was the union steward and chairman of the English department.

Bob was a passionate Civil War historian who enjoyed taking trips to battlefields with his friends. An avid traveler, he loved taking his family on travel trips around the country, camping trips to the BWCAW and going trout fishing in the rivers of northwestern Wisconsin. Bob was a proud Finnish-American, visiting Finland many times and keeping in diligent touch with relatives there. A U.S. Army veteran, Bob was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga. during the Vietnam War. Intellectually curious and a spiritual seeker, Bob grew up Lutheran and raised his family in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, but he identified most strongly with Quakerism and he also attended Unitarian services. His wisdom came from understanding the world through the lens of history, and he also instilled in his children a deep love for music, literature and the arts. Bob's favorite novel was Herman Melville's Moby Dick, and his favorite piece of music was Jean Sibelius's Symphony No. 2.

Bob is preceded in death by beloved wife Martha (Battey) Niemela and siblings Donald Niemela and Barbara Yager. After his wife's death, Bob was blessed to spend 13 years of travel, adventure and deep connection with Betty Wilkinson of Fairhope, Ala. Bob is survived by two children, Jenny Niemela (Peter Anderson) of St. Paul, Minn., and Doug Niemela (Melissa Cuff) of St. Paul, Minn., two grandsons, Victor Hietalahti and Rocky Niemela, one sister, Audrey Anderson of Laingsburg, Mich., and many nieces and nephews.

Bob will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery later this spring. Details about a Celebration of Life will be forthcoming. The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to H2O for Life at h2oforlifeschools.org. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cremation Society of Minnesota. www.cremationsocietyofmn.com