TRACY - Services for Robert Lanners, 73, of Tracy, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7 p.m. parish prayer service at the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Currie. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

He died Saturday, July 4, 2009, at the Prairieview Health Care Center in Tracy.

He was born June 7, 1936, to James and Mary (Lentz) Lanners in Currie, Murray County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended country school. As a young boy his family lived in the Currie, Iona and Lismore areas.

On Sept. 30, 1959, Robert married Carol Miller at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. They made their home in Worthington for a short time, where he worked for Campbell's Soup, before moving to a farm outside Currie. Robert raised and trained horses while living on the farm and in 1964 they moved to a farm near Garvin. Over the years they lived on farms in the Balaton and Walnut Grove areas, before moving into Marshall. He worked for Swift's and then Appleton Silo in Marshall and then moved to Lynd, where he continued to live after his wife's death in 1991. Robert retired in 2006 after 29 years as a route driver for the Marshall Independent newspaper. He was also a driver for the Star-Tribune from Minneapolis for many years.

On March 19, 1993, Robert married Darlene Spielman and they made their home in Lynd for some time before moving to an apartment in Marshall. In November 2008 Robert became a resident of the Prairie View Health Care Center in Tracy.

Robert was active over the years in bowling leagues and enjoyed fishing, hunting, raising and training horses while living on the farm, Slayton stock car racing, and going to auctions and sales, such as those held at the Walnut Grove Sale Barn.

Robert is survived by his wife, Darlene of Marshall; two daughters, Connie (Randy) Schreier of Balaton, and Shirley Peterson and fianc, David Thooft, of Marshall; five sons, David (Dawn) Lanners of Wood Lake, Kevin (Chris) Lanners of Tracy, Mike (Kellie) Lanners of Ruthton, Dale (Kathy) Lanners of Russell, and Robert Jr. (Lisa) Lanners of Pipestone; 33 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; one brother, Urban Lanners of Belle Plain; one sister, Veronica Neyens of Fulda; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

His parents, first wife, Carol, one grandson, Lance Peterson, and one son-in-law, Jim Peterson preceded him in death.