Robert Lewellyn Kimpel (Bob), 95, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 2, 2024. He was born July 10, 1929 in Grand Island, Nebraska to Norman Clyde Kimpel (Norm) and Avis Lucille Thompsen (Avis).
Bob was a cowboy, a rancher, an outdoorsman, a baseball coach, and so much more to all of us. Professionally he worked as a bricklayer and Stone Mason in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mobile, Alabama; around the Southeast and throughout the Caribbean including 2 years in Venezuela. He was a proud member of the local (Mobile, AL) bricklayers union for over 40 years.
During World War II, Bob and his mother relocated to Greeley, Colorado while his father served overseas. It was during those days that his love of horses developed when he worked as a cowboy, horse wrangler and he guided tourists on horseback trips through the Rocky Mountains. He also learned how to fish and hunt in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and later became a skilled hunter and expert fisherman. After the war, Bob moved back to Nebraska with his parents.
Shortly after high school graduation in 1947 from Wood River High School in Wood River, Nebraska Bob moved with his mom and dad to Colorado Springs, Colorado where he worked together with his father at their restaurant, the Santa Fe Café. Bob served proudly for 7 years as a Radioman 3rd Class in the United States Navy Reserve from November of 1947 until November of 1954. He was and always will be a very patriotic American.
Bob married Betty Jean Lindsay in 1949 and had 3 children, all in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After relocating to Mobile, Alabama in 1962 he continued his craftsmanship as a Stone Mason and raised his children in the church and in youth sports. He was an active volunteer in youth baseball and assisted in the development of young men at Matthews Park. Bob became a member of Cottage Hill Baptist Church in 1967 and has been a member now for over 50 years.
Bob remarried in 1993 to Mary Alice Walden and they have been married for 30 years. Bob and Mary thoroughly enjoyed entertaining, dancing, and times together with family and friends. They loved to dance and he spent many nights enjoying the dance floor with Mary, even if he needed his walker in the later days. One of Bob's greatest memories was dancing with Mary on his 95th birthday this past July.
Bob was a man of great character and lived a life defined by God, love of country and family. His life was filled with love, joy, laughter, positive thinking and a spirit of helping others.
He is preceded in death by his parents Norman and Avis and one grandson, Christopher Paul Kimpel. He is survived by his wife Mary of 31 years, his three children Rick Kimpel of Roswell, New Mexico; Monte Kimpel (Toni) of Bellville, Texas; Rocky Kimpel (Tonya) of Mobile, Alabama and one stepdaughter Liz Moran (Tim) of Lake Frederick, Virginia.
Bob was blessed with 20 grandkids and over 40 great-grandkids and 6 great-great grandchildren. His grandkids include Michael Moran (Aubrey), Zachary Moran (Alyssa), Adam Moran, Rick Kimpel Jr. (Stacy), Caleb Kimpel (Maddie), Matthew Kimpel (Ashley), Katie Akers, Elizabeth Whiddon (Mike), Sarah Taylor (Nate), Isaac Kimpel (Elise), Lindsay Medeiros (Matt), Kara Getz, Seth Kimpel, Tillie Kimpel, AnaVictoria Kimpel, Crystal Kimpel, Autumn Belote (Shaun), Charity Zajac (Michael), and Rocky Kimpel.
His great-grandchildren included Jonas Moran, Eli Moran, Harper Moran, Isabella Moran, Drew Kimpel, Haley Kimpel, Caitlyn Kimpel, Trevor Kimpel, Travis Kimpel, Courtney Rodriguez (Adam), Collin Ellison (Krista), Georgia Kelly, Brayden Everhart, Taytelyn Everheart, Bryleigh Akers, Charlie Akers, Cooper Whiddon, Nathan Whiddon, Blake Whiddon, Christian Taylor, Makayla Taylor, Natalee Taylor, Dylan Owen-Cessna, Ava Kimpel, Ryder Kimpel, Sawyer Kimpel, Ian Medeiros, Daxton Medeiros, Kadynn Getz, Jayden Getz, Danny Kimpel, Crystal Kimpel, Riley Belote, Hayley Belote, Ella Belote, Keagan Belote, Christian Zajac, Sydney Zajac, and Finley Zajac.
The pallbearers will be Rick Kimpel Jr., Caleb Kimpel, Matthew Kimpel, Isaac Kimpel, Seth Kimpel, Nate Taylor, Matt Medeiros, and Michael Zajac.
In lieu of flowers, Bob would be honored by donations made to either of these favorite charities -St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.
The family will receive friends and guests from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 6040 Three Notch Rd. Mobile, Alabama, 36619. Funeral Services will follow in the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home at 2:00 PM followed by a graveside service in the Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
July 10, 1929 — December 2, 2024
Interment will take place in Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery 6100 Three Notch Rd. Mobile, AL 36619
