![]() ![]() Uncle Lefty is also survived by many nieces and nephews. ![]() He is survived by brother Richard Ulrich (Phyllis) (Bowdle, SD), sisters Verdgie Schaeffer (Mesa, AZ), Judy Blotsky (Ted), (Spokane, WA), and Janie Carlblom (Mesa, AZ) along with LaVonne's siblings and spouses Quentin Spitzer (Joyce), (Bismarck, ND), Suzanne Spitzer, (Havertown, PA), Gina Evenson (Larry), (Mesa, AZ), John Ole Spitzer, (Baldwin, ND), and Jeff Spitzer (Robin), (Wilton, ND). ![]() Robert is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren - Dawn Ulrich-Spitzer (Mankato MN) Brett Ulrich (Jackie), (Portland, ND) and children Karl (Bismarck, ND), Katie Kohler (Jed), children Drew, Charlie, and Jack (Valley City, ND), Kellie Cigelske (Ryan), children, Evie and Theo (Fargo, ND), and Robbie (Portland, ND) Lisa Hepola (Jim), (Canfield, OH), children Darby (Cincinnati, OH), Samuel (West Point, NY), and Vincent (Youngstown, OH) Cari Ulrich, (Dent, MN) and Sara Ulrich and daughter Cecelia (Portland, OR). He never missed a chance to cheer on the Packers. He was a favored card partner with the bridge clubs, and could still swing the club, not as far, but with razor accuracy. Lefty was a member of poker and pinochle gangs. They loved to mingle, and many who crossed their path became lifelong friends. In 1995, Lefty and LaVonne made their final home in Sunland Village in Mesa, AZ. He mended and mentored many Cobber athletes. Doc was inducted into the Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. He was the trainer for the 19 national championship Cobber football teams. His most treasured nickname was that of "Doc", as he was called by all Cobber athletes and coaches, as the first head Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer for the entire Concordia athletics department from 1966-1992. Wouldn't you know, he got a hole in one, on that same hole that he missed on the show, that very same day? The first hole-in-one of the nine he garnered in his life. He came up short that day, only to run into a friend who asked him to play a round. He hit the golf ball with intense accuracy, and once appeared on the Jim Adelson Hole-in-One show. He was double trouble with his high arc, drop fast delivery on the mound, and "to the moon" home runs, from the plate. Lefty double rostered on several local softball teams. The family landed in Moorhead, MN in 1966, where he was the head of the Physical Therapy Department at St. Often kids would knock on the door and ask, "Can your dad come out and play?" ![]() He was known in the Chicago neighborhood as the dad who would put together the weekend football games in the playground for all the kids. "Lefty" known for his keen batting skills, played baseball in college and graduated from Minot State in 1961, and then Northwestern University in Chicago in 1962, where he earned a degree in Physical Therapy. where he was stationed before being honorably discharged. As a Petty Officer, and trained in communications, he was stationed in Guam. He enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. His homecoming queen, LaVonne Spitzer, would become his lifelong queen, and they married October 9, 1955. He was a stellar athlete, and homecoming king. He was born Octoto Clarence and Florence (Fahlgren) Ulrich in Wilton, ND, where he grew up and graduated in 1952. When his old knees were replaced, he was quite content to watch his grandkids compete on the field, court, and ice. Throughout the years, he was a true athlete, football, basketball, baseball you name it he played it, and coached and cheered on his kids from first base and the bleachers. He couldn't handle a hammer, but was skilled at getting an athlete back into the game. Never missing an opportunity to play a mean game of pinochle, or a quick 18 on the golf course, "Bob" was both, a card shark and hole-in-one specialist. Ulrich passed away after a long and lively life January 11, 2021, in Mesa AZ, at the age of 86 due to the residual effects of the coronavirus. ![]()
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