Robert "Bob" Kimmel

Robert “Bob” Kimmel Jr. was born on October 2, 1962, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert and Etta Kimmel. He passed away on March 11, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his family, after a short battle with lung cancer.

There will be a celebration of life at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 515 NE 48th Place, Des Moines, Iowa 50313.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2026, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Bob was born and raised on the east side of Des Moines and graduated from East High School with the Class of 1981. During and after high school, he worked at Betts Hardware, where he made countless friends and memories.

Bob later built a career in trucking and warehouse management. He worked for Merchants Distribution for 23 years before continuing his career with Des Moines Public Schools.

Bob was known for his infectious personality, easygoing attitude, and great sense of humor. He was truly a family man, and his loved ones were always his top priority.

He had a lifelong passion for dirt track racing. Whether he was behind the wheel, in the pits helping others, or watching races at the local tracks or on television, he loved being part of the racing community. In his free time, you could often find him tinkering in the yard or garage with a cold drink in hand. Bob was very handy and could fix just about anything. He also shared a love for classic cars and motorcycles.

In 2005, Bob married the love of his life, Christina. Together they blended their families, which included his three children, Justin (Jen) Kimmel, Brenna (Travis) Booth, and Karisa (Zach) Phelps, along with her two children, Cody (Choy) Moen and Danielle Moen.

One of Bob’s greatest joys in life was being a grandpa. His family grew to include 12 grandchildren. He often joked, “I should have just done the grandpa thing first.” While Bob was not one for big adventures, he was always willing to go along with anyone’s shenanigans.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Chris; his children and grandchildren; his father, Robert Kimmel Sr.; his brothers, Rick (Sue) Kimmel and Dennis (Tina) Kimmel; his in-laws, Thalia Thomas and Jerry (Bonnie) Kilgore; and his furry companions, Ky and Angel.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Etta Kimmel; his grandson, Aden Kimmel-Booth; and father-in-law, Carol Thomas.

Always remember you can't be mad and eat ice cream.

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