Robert "Bob" Nemes

Robert “Bob” Nemes

Oct. 29, 1945 - Dec. 9, 2016

MISHAWAKA - Robert “Bob” Nemes was born on October 29, 1945, and died on December 9, 2016, after a three-year experience with complicated and aggressive cancer.

Bob was born to Al and Leona Nemes, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana, as one of five children; he is survived by siblings, Al Nemes, Joan Cook, Ken Nemes, and Kurt Nemes. He was married to Cynthia Fitzgerald in 1968, and together they had three children: Karen Nemes, John Nemes, and Cassie Nemes; and had four grandchildren: Ian Woodiel, Christian Woodiel, Sydney Dominguez, and Gabrielle Dominguez. All of his children and grandchildren are alive and well today.

In 1998 he married Terry DeSimone. Her daughter, Tess McDonald, and Tess' spouse, Skye McDonald, both looked to Bob as a father figure.

Tess and Skye's two daughters, Trea McDonald and Meran McDonald, loved Bob as their grandfather. The feeling was mutual and Bob loved them all as his own family.

Bob was active in Boy Scouting and was an Eagle Scout. He was in band in high school, and was also an accomplished swimmer and Red Cross certified lifeguard. He attended Penn High School and Purdue University, where he earned a teaching degree. He taught History in Colorado and Indiana, then worked in carpentry and woodworking before moving into industry, holding positions at Dodge Foundry, AM General, and Zenith, among others.

Throughout his life, Bob was an accomplished builder and craftsman, completely renovating a house in Niles and then building a custom home in Lydick. He shared his knowledge as both a Cub Scout and 4-H leader.

Often described as a “Renaissance Man” by family and friends, he had an ever-expanding range of interests. Bob was a gourmet cook and enjoyed experimenting with many different types of food. He enjoyed music, art, and design, and was particularly fond of classical music and the art of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.

Bob was intelligent, kind, and insightful. In 1998 he received a Master's in Counseling from Indiana University South Bend and began to study Buddhism and Eastern Philosophy. He explored topics from quantum physics to indigenous spirituality. He passed many of these interests on to his three children and many other people he knew. Bob cared passionately about society and the plight of the poor and working class, as he was no stranger to struggle. He instilled in his children a powerful sense of true justice and social responsibility that burns strongly in them all today.

Bob and Terry moved to Florida in 2002, where he worked for the City of Cape Coral prior to retirement. He owned two boats and enjoyed discovering the new and rich coastal landscape, becoming an expert at fishing and navigating the byways and harbors near the Gulf of Mexico.

On the ocean he was able to find a peace that often eluded him elsewhere. Bob has now gone home to find true and everlasting peace.

He will always be remembered, missed, and loved by all who knew him.