| Graduation Year | Class of 1970 |
| Date of Passing | Nov 27, 2015 |
| About | Robert Z. Kimmell, age 63, passed peacefully at his Atascadero, California home on Friday, November 27th. He was born the fourth of five children to William S. and Mary Louise (Hinchman), who both preceded him in passing. An elder brother, Bill also preceded him. A Rush County native, he graduated Rushville Consolidated High School Class of 1970 and attended I.U. in Bloomington. Kimmell was fully engaged in his high school years with 4-H, football, wrestling, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student Council, to name a few. He went on to study biology and plant science at IU, and enjoyed intramural rugby with his brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He moved to Central Coast California in the early eighties, and spent the bulk of his career as a Corrections Officer for the State of California until retirement in 2010. In his term at the San Luis Obispo Men's Colony, Kimmell's role developed into that of counseling to offenders, and later to fellow Officers as well. In 1995, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Ornamental Horticulture from The California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Throughout his life, Rob was a steward to "the land" and all its life in many ways through his involvement in organic gardening and farming organizations/clubs, and was an avid student of a school of farming called "Permaculture". His pride and joy were in his development of an amazingly productive single acre parcel in the community of Garden Farms. He served several years as Secretary for the community water utility until his passing. He was also a co-founder of the Central Coast Beekeepers Allliance. whose mission promote the importance of honeybees as pollinators of the Earth. Robert Kimmell leaves behind his wife of twenty years, Karen (Kuhns) Kimmell, siblings Mary Elizabeth Emerson of Tampa, Annee of Rushville, Joe Kimmell of Arlington, and many nieces and nephews. The family will hold a memorial service in May, 2016, to honor their brother during his beloved Morel mushroom season. Rushville Republican Parents: William Stuart Kimmell (1916 - 1968) Mary Louise Hinchman Kimmell (1918 - 2011) Sibling: William Hinchman Kimmell (1950 - 2011) |
