{{Short description|American businessman and politician (1939–2025)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Bob Kierlin | image = | caption = | birth_name = Robert A. Kierlin | birth_date = {{birth date|1939|06|01}} | birth_place = Winona, Minnesota U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|02|10|1939|06|01}} | death_place = Winona, Minnesota, U.S. | education = University of Minnesota (BSME, MBA) }}
'''Robert A. Kierlin''' (June 1, 1939 – February 10, 2025) was an American businessman, politician, and well respected community member of Winona.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kierlin, Bob |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=23458 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref>
Born in Winona, Minnesota, Kierlin graduated from Cotter High School in Winona. He received his bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and master's in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. In 1967, Kierlin helped found Fastenal in Winona, Minnesota. He founded Fastenal along with Steve Slaggie, later to become a director on the board of investors of Fastenal. He also founded the company with Jack Remick, Van Mconnon, and Mike Gostomski. They are known as the "Fastenal Five". He had two daughters Lara and Monique with his first wife, Venezuelan ballet dancer Stefannie Valencia. He provided the initial funding and artwork for the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona. He served in the Minnesota Senate from 1999 to 2007 as a Republican.<ref>[http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=10319 Bob Kierlin-Minnesota Legislators Past and Present]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301120018/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-02-23/fastenals-runaway-stock-success Fastenal's Runaway Stock Success]</ref> He died in Winona on February 10, 2025, at the age of 85.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.startribune.com/fastenal-founder-winona-philanthropist-bob-kierlin-dies/601221116 |title=Fastenal founder, Winona philanthropist Bob Kierlin dies |first1=Trey |last1=Mewes |newspaper=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=February 12, 2025 |access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref>
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{{Navboxes |title=Offices and distinctions |list1= {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-mn-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Steven "Steve" Morse}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Minnesota Senate<br>from the 32nd district|years=1999–2003}} {{s-aft|after=Warren Limmer}}
{{s-bef|before=Kenric Scheevel}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Minnesota Senate<br>from the 31st district|years=2003–2007}} {{s-aft|after=Sharon Erickson Ropes}} {{s-end}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kierlin, Bob}} Category:1939 births Category:2025 deaths Category:People from Winona, Minnesota Category:University of Minnesota alumni Category:Businesspeople from Minnesota Category:Republican Party Minnesota state senators Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature
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