ROBERT LESTER TRITLE was born May 28, 1948, in Brookings, South Dakota, the son of James Lester Tritle and Mary Evelyn (Brodt) Tritle. He died Sunday, June 23, 1991, at the Brookings Hospital at the age of 43 years.
He spent his early years in Brookings and attended Brookings Public Schools. He was united in marriage to Catherine Louise Fritz in Brookings on December 21, 1968. Robert graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. Degree in 1970. In 1973 he was inducted into the U.S. Army where he served for six years. During that time he received his B.S. Degree from South Dakota State University. After his discharge at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 1979, he attended the University of Minnesota where he received his Master’s of Hospital Administration Degree in 1981.
Robert enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on October 14, 1981, and served in the Medical Service at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, Hahn Air Force Base in Germany, Norton Air Force Base in California, and Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He was discharged from active duty due to failing health in September of 1990 and returned to Brookings in October of 1990.
Major Tritle was the recipient of two Meritorious Service Medals (first and second Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Training Ribbon, United States Air Force Medical Readiness Officer of the Year, United States Air Force in Europe 1987.
He was proud to have served in the military and appreciated and enjoyed the opportunities to travel and the many associations he made with the fine military personnel with whom he served.
Robert is survived by his wife Catherine; two sons, David and Nathan; his parents, James and Mary Tritle, all of Brookings; one brother, Thomas Tritle of Cedar Falls, Iowa; his father-in-law, John E. Fritz of Brookings; loving brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and many caring friends. He was preceded in death by an infant brother.
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Bob Tritle was the hardest studying person I knew at Carleton. He could often be seen smoking away in the basement of various dorms in which he lived. He loved Chinese history and the language. As I recall, he attended U of Chicago and studied Chinese history there. I believe he ultimately became a Captain in the US Military.