Kristin “Kris” Robinson passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 4, 2024 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for 10 years. She was 85.
Carmelita Rosalie Kristin was the fourth of five children born to Cedric and Ruby (Peterson) Anderson on January 3, 1939 in North Platte, Nebraska. Her family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she grew up and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Kris attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota where she met Robert “Robbie” Robinson. They married on August 2, 1958, and lived in the small towns of Brownton and Mora, Minnesota, where Kris worked in a doctor’s office and a bank. Eventually, the couple settled in Rochester, Minnesota, and they had three kids.
After staying home for a time raising her young children, at 40 years old, Kris finished her degree in Business Education/Accounting at Winona State University. She taught for a couple years in the Rochester Public Schools before she landed a job with the Mayo Clinic business office. In 1989, she and Robbie moved to Mesa, Arizona as Kris was able to transfer to Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. She retired from Mayo after 25 years. Although proud of her career, she relished her retirement.
Family was everything to Kris. She was a wonderful wife, an incredible mother, and an immensely proud grandmother. As a supportive and knowledgeable coach’s wife, Kris likely attended thousands of football games and track meets, often serving as the official scorer at track meets. She also never missed one of the countless sporting events—home or away—in which her children participated.
Kris’s father was an excellent musician/conductor, and she played the flute, standing bass, and piano. She was in many different choirs over 60 years, and passed on her love of music to her kids. She also loved to travel. Throughout their 65-year marriage, Kris and Robbie traveled the world, including Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, Japan, the Philippines, and China.
Kris was an animal lover and dog mom her whole life. She was also a voracious reader, often reading two newspapers a day as well as fiction. She was highly empathetic towards people and the world around her. Even though Kris lost most of her memory and eventually her words to Alzheimer’s, she never lost her laugh, which was beautiful.
Kris was preceded in death by her parents, brother Rev. Richmond Anderson, sister Shirley Warren, brother-in-law Charles Warren, and nephew Rick Anderson. She is survived by her husband Robbie; her kids Kurt (Jane) Robinson, JoLynn (Matt) Nesset, and Tara (Brad) Kaczmarek; her grandkids Mahrielle Kaczmarek, Parker Kaczmarek, and Samuel Robinson; her dog Annie; her sisters Hjordis (Ara) Tourian and Ingrid (Robert) Kessler; her sister-in-law Lorraine Anderson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Kris spent the last few years of her life in the excellent and loving care of the staff at Sky Vista in Mesa, Arizona, who are considered family.
The family will hold a private memorial/interment service at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona on January 14, 2024.