Bob Kierlin built Fastenal into a billion-dollar industry leader. His true legacy isn’t just Fastenal’s growth — it’s the ...

Bob Kierlin’s frugality was legendary — he bought suits secondhand, never drove a fancy car, and even built his own basement ...

Bob Kierlin was more than a successful businessman and dedicated public servant — he was a man who put people first. Whether ...

Bob Kierlin, the founder of Fastenal, has died at 85. Kierlin served as Fastenal’s CEO from 1968 to 2002 and was on its board ...

Bob Kierlin was more than a successful businessman and dedicated public servant — he was a man who put people first. Whether in his hometown of Winona, or across the world in communities facing ...

He also represented Winona as a state senator from 1999 until 2006.

Kierlin died Monday in Winona, according to his obituary. A former Minnesota state senator, he was best known for founding ...

Born in 1939 in Winona, Kierlin grew up in a modest, German-Polish Catholic household and loved riding his bike around town ...

Bob Kierlin built Fastenal into a Fortune 500 company and helped build its home city of Winona, as well. Nationally, he had a reputation for thriftiness, often appearing on the Business Journal's list ...

“He’s an icon in this community. The only people bigger were Chief Wapasha, William Windom, J.R. Watkins and John Latsch,” said Winona dentist Peter Zehren, noting Kierlin’s fingerprints ...