DULUTH, Minn. - Robert N. "Bob" Kimball, 78, of Ironwood, Mich., died peacefully Monday, Aug. 10, 2015, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born March 4, 1937, in Ironwood, son of the late Ben and Erma (Colasacco) Kimball. The family moved to Detroit in 1941, where Bob attended St. Dominic School and was active in music and sang in several operettas. The family returned to Ironwood in 1949, where Bob attended seventh grade at St. Ambrose School and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1955.
After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a dental technician at Great Lakes Naval Base following basic training there. He subsequently served as dental technician at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida. He then returned to Ironwood and enrolled at Gogebic Community College, receiving an associate's degree in 1961.
Bob continued his education at Northern Michigan University at Marquette, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in 1963 and a Master of Arts degree in 1967. He taught junior high school in Ontonagon, Mich., from 1963-1966, and received numerous academic honors, including a National Defense Scholarship of select individuals to do graduate work in history at Purdue University, the only one from Michigan. He also received a Ford Scholarship to do graduate work in humanities at Ohio State University. In addition, he received a Ford Fellowship to travel and study education in the former Soviet Union, during which he created a series of video tapes.
During his tenure at Gogebic Community College from 1967-1992, Bob served as an instructor in the Social Science Division, a division which he chaired for many years. He also served for a period of time as the Director of Evening Programs.
He served on the committee to draw up the educational specifications for the Rutger Erickson Academic Building and assisted in the establishment of numerous new courses and programs.
Bob wrote a number of successful grants to enhance the audio-visual phase of instruction at GCC. He often said that the most important part of his career at Gogebic was his students and their successes.
He was presented an award as distinguished faculty member by the Gogebic Community College Foundation at its annual banquet on Oct. 2, 2008, in appreciation and recognition of his outstanding commitment and leadership to the community. After his retirement from GCC, Bob served on the State Board of Directors for the Michigan Education Association.
Bob was a current member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and former member of St. Michael's Catholic Church. He also was a member of the Sons of the Quattro Abruzzi. He enjoyed reading and was a big Green Bay Packers fan.
On Aug. 5, 1961, he was married to Mary Anne Guzek of Ontonagon at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon by the Rev. Charles Herbst. Mary Anne survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Robert F. (Jyl), Montague, Mich., Stephen M. (Rowena), Angeles City, Philippines, and David J. (Rosemarie), Eau Claire, Wis .; a daughter, Christine L. Ursini, Ironwood; 12 grandchildren, Tabitha Bledsoe, Kasey and Katie Kimball, Stepheni Kimball, Amelia, Gabriel, Grace, Beth and Zachary Kimball, and James, Maryanne and Anthony Ursini; two great-grandchildren, Jacie and Sadie; four sisters, Patty (Jim) Relich, Green Bay, Wis., Lynn (Dick) Thompson, Hudson, Wis., Debbie (Dan) Smith, Ironwood, and Karen (Jeff) Begalle, Bessemer, Mich .; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe (Mary) Guzek, Brighton, Mich., Pete (Debbie) Guzek, Ontonagon, Fred (Sue) Guzek, Dover, Kan., Maureen Guzek, Ontonagon, and Jean (Jack Whiting) Guzek, East Bloomfield, N.Y .; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Bob was predeceased by a son, Joseph, in infancy; and brother-in-law, Michael Guzek.
Visitation will be held in the St. Joseph Family Room at Our Lady of Peace Church in Ironwood on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.
Full military honors will be accorded at the church by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.
Luncheon will follow in the parish hall.
Rite of Committal and interment will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Ontonagon, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
Serving as pallbearers will be Bob's sons, Robert F., Stephen M., and David J. Kimball, and grandsons, James V. and Anthony R. Ursini and Gabriel J. Kimball.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Retired Priests' Fund, St. Joseph Association, Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855, or the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, 108 S. Marquette St., Ironwood, MI 49938.
Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.