Robert Kimmel

Robert L. Kimmel, age 91, of Wilmot, SD, who passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the Wilmot Care Center.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wilmot. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be in the Wilmot City Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be available at the bottom of this page.

Robert Louis Kimmel was born on September 18, 1930, in Verdon, SD, to Louis and Lydia (Remund) Kimmel. He attended school in Verdon until 1942 when the family moved to a farm near Wilmot, SD, where he graduated high school with the Class of 1948.

On October 8, 1955, Bob was united in marriage with LaVerne Downer in Rosholt, SD. Together, they raised their children: Steven, Nancy, and Peggy.

Bob worked at the Wilmot Creamery and Porter Chevrolet in his early years. In 1962, Bob and LaVerne bought a farm northeast of Wilmot where he farmed and raised livestock until his retirement. He began selling insurance for AAL in the early 1970’s and continued for 20 years.

Following retirement, Bob sold vehicles for Christianson Inc. They moved to a home in Wilmot in 1993 and then to the Wilmot Care Center in 2019.

Bob was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wilmot and served on the Church Council there. He was a member of the NFO in the 1960’s and served on the Lake Township Board, the Wilmot School Board, the Wilmot Ranch Rodeo Committee, and the Wilmot Care Center Board. He was active in many church and community projects throughout his life.

Bob always owned horses, both draft and saddle, and attended many trail rides and rode until he was no longer able, instilling a love for horses in all of his children. He collected, bought, and sold antiques most of his life. He bought and sold vintage tractors and never missed a good auction sale. He enjoyed dancing, playing pinochle with a worthy opponent, and teaching life lessons to his children and grandchildren. Bob was an athlete in his youth, played amateur baseball and basketball after high school, and was a referee. Later, he and LaVerne spent many years supporting the Wilmot Wolves at all their sporting events.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 66 years, LaVerne; son, Steven (Mary Ann) Kimmel of Overton, NV; daughters: Nancy Kimmel (Mickey

Swayze) of Wilmot, SD; and Peggy (Curt) Mundt of Agar, SD; grandchildren: Cody (Lani) Kimmel of Reno, NV; Lauren Kimmel of Overton, NV; and Jacob (Jessie) Huff of Wilmot, SD; four great-grandchildren; sister, Beverly Sawinsky of Aberdeen, SD; and sister and brother-in-law, Anita and Arlan Holm of Fargo, ND, and their children and families.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Thoralf and Esther Dahl; brother-in-law, Gene Sawinsky; niece, Dana Holm; and many close friends.