Robert "Bob" Winkel

Losing Bob leaves a big hole in the lives of everyone who knew him. 

It’s hard to imagine life without him. If you had visited Bob any time in the past 10 years or so, you’ll be able to picture him sitting in his recliner by the front door, checking his phone and watching his crime shows or bowling, golf, and, yes, even cornhole. There was so much more to Bob than that, though, as anyone who knew him will tell you.

He loved to be around people, and people loved to be around him. His grumpy exterior couldn’t hide an affectionate and compassionate interior. And he was fun . . . the party started when he arrived. Once you were a friend, you were a friend forever – many for 60+ years.

Family occupied a big part of Bob’s heart. He was a loving partner to wife Ronnie, whom he was with for 46 years, a father to Robbie and grandfather to little Rob. Bob came from a large family and was a devoted brother to Paula, Ricky, Larry, and Wayne, and his late siblings Johnny, George, and Tommy, as well as their beloved spouses and partners, Anthony, Linda, Cherry, Nazarina, and Grace. He was a mama’s boy and a caring son to his late mother, Jackie.

Bob was also always there for Ronnie’s sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandy, Jane, and Resa, and Ken, Jim, and David, and their children. He has the gratitude of Ronnie’s family for the love and care he showered on their mother, Sylvia, in the last years of her life.

It goes without saying that Bob never met a kid who didn’t adore him or a dog to which he didn’t sneak a treat. He enjoyed time spent with his nieces and nephews as they grew up and then with their children.

His love of animals extended to horses. He owned and raced horses in the New York area for 15 years. As with dogs, he loved giving the horses treats and always carried a carrot in his pocket for them.

Bob served in Vietnam in the 1970s and was proud of being a veteran.

He was a big guy -- 6’7” -- and physically made a big impression. But the greatest impression he made was the impact he had on our lives. Everyone has a good memory about Bob. We will miss him forever.