Robert "Bob" Lester Gemmill

Robert "Bob" Lester Gemmill, Jr., 73, met his Heavenly Father on Christmas morning after an agonizing yet courageous fight with lung cancer. Born in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Robert and Marian Gemmill, he graduated from Sexton High School and earned his bachelor's degree from his beloved Michigan State University. After graduating college, he enlisted in the US Army Reserves and began working in grocery retail. He worked his way from bagboy to one of the top performing store managers for the Kroger Company for 25 years. During his career, he opened and managed high-performing stores throughout Michigan and Columbia, South Carolina. He was passionate about establishing community-business partnerships and spearheaded many programs to benefit public education and local charities. Even though he was an award-winning and high-ranking manager, you would often find him bagging side-by-side with teenage bagboys on the front ends of his stores. He was a man of true character, both hardworking and humble, which is why all who were fortunate to know him revered him greatly. He met his wife, the former Judith "Judy" Hinman, due to a fortunate encounter at a local drug store where she worked. He entered looking specifically for butter pecan ice cream, she scooped it for him, and the rest is sweet history. Needless to say, one could always spot a carton of butter pecan ice cream in their freezer for years to come - it became a family favorite. He leaves his devoted wife of 50 years, Judy Gemmill; his four children: Michelle "Shelly" Gemmill, Kristin (Jeff) Swanson, Melinda (Allen) Bullard, and Robert (Jamie) Gemmill, III; and eight grandchildren: Morgan and Ryan Swanson, Alden (Tyler) Newberry, AJ Bullard, III, Caitlin, Madison, Robyn, and Robert Gemmill, V. There will be a private family gathering celebrating the life and legacy of Robert Gemmill, Jr. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support the ASPCA, as Robert loved the many cats and dogs he owned throughout his life. A special thanks to Dr.Benjamin Levinson, Hospice Care of Tri-County, and Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington for their professional and caring services. Go Green! Go White!