ROBERT "BOB" DOUGLAS GETZEL, age 73, of Worthington, died Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Royal C. Johnson Memorial Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He was born September 9, 1951, in Slayton, to Douglas and Donna (Goedtke) Getzel. He grew up on the family farm and attended Worthington Schools and graduated from Worthington High School in 1969. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force on December 1, 1969. He spent his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX. He was stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Bellville, IL until he was honorably discharged on December 1, 1973. Bob returned home and worked different jobs on the farm. Bob married Barbara Hedrick in 1975. The couple lived in Worthington and had two children, Angie & Austin; and Bob adopted two children, Beth & Bret. The couple later divorced. Bob married Donna Fischer on June 21, 1986, on the family farm near Worthington. Bob drove truck for Worthington Block & Tile. He later started driving over the road for Sunderman Transfer for over ten years. He then drove truck for A & A Express since 1985. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Worthington. He enjoyed trucking, NASCAR, riding his motorcycle, and his grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Bob is survived by his wife, Donna Getzel, Worthington; six children, Bret (Kim) Getzel, Overland Park, KS; Beth Fenske, Rosemount; Dawn (Mark) VandeVoort, Valley Springs, SD; Angie (Ryan) Neubauer, Montgomery; Heath (Allison) Fischer, Brandon, SD; and Austin (Alison) Getzel, Prior Lake; eleven grandchildren, Alexis Getzel, Brooklyn Getzel, Brandon Carlson, Carter Steinbeck, Lexi Steinbeck, Alyssa Kanten, Brannon Kanten, Robert "Beau" Brantner, Samantha Cox, Katherine Fischer, Abigail Fischer, Conner VandeVoort, Carter VandeVoort, Ashley Marko, Caden Marko and Carson Marko; five great-grandchildren, Alayna, Elizabeth, Aayden, Cypress and Ezra; and two sisters, Gail Gruis, Fulda; and Sheryl "Shorty" (Paul) Veen, Charles City, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Ron Gruis; uncle, Del Goedtke; and his grandparents.

A time of fellowship will be from 4-7 pm Thursday, March 13, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington. Memorial service will be 10:30 am Friday at the Dingmann Funeral Home, in Worthington, officiated by Pastor John Semchenko. Burial with full military honors provided by the Worthington American Legion & VFW, will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.