Robert P. Kimball (“Bob”), 69, died peacefully at his Grand Rapids home on August 8, 2018. Bob was born in Rochester, New York, to the late Willard and Marjorie Kimball. He is preceded in death by Penni, his beloved wife of 46 years. Bob is survived by his three children, Jennifer, Tyler (Andrea) and TJ, and his grandchildren, Leo and McKenna, as well as his twin sister, Bev Carey, and his siblings, Carol Reynolds, Jack (Linda) Kimball and Jan Kimball. Bob was exceptional in business as in life, which he looked back on as his “great adventure.” Bob graduated college in 1971 and took an entry-level sales position with an office furniture dealer in upstate New York, which led him to a position in Haworth Inc.’s Rochester office a few years later. Bob’s charisma, his dedication, and his uncanny sixth sense for the business propelled him through the ranks at Haworth, and he led Haworth sales offices in Rochester, then Boston, New York City, Chicago, and eventually Holland, Michigan, earning countless awards and accolades along the way. Bob was named Haworth’s Vice President of Global Accounts in 1998 and retired in 2013 after a 33 year career with Haworth. Although proud of his successes, Bob most valued all the relationships he built through the years; he leaves behind many colleagues and dear friends all over the world. Bob’s dedication to Haworth was surpassed only by his dedication to his family. At home, Bob was “hands-on” and mastered complex home improvement projects, from installing a street light in Boston to replacing hardwood floors in his Grand Rapids home. Bob loved setting off fireworks for his kids and, as his family grew older, he and Penni greatly enjoyed traveling the world together. Losing Penni to cancer in late 2017 was the great sorrow of his life, a pain eased only by his daily phone chats with his twin sister, Bev, in North Carolina. Bob’s passing leaves us with a hole in our hearts that we cannot hope to fill; he truly was an exceptional man. All are welcome to attend an open memorial gathering on August 25, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 3:30 p.m. at Reyers North Valley Chapel, Grand Rapids. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Joslin Diabetes Center, www.joslin.org.
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