Robert B. "Rob" Bertrand

So that his daughter in Australia can attend, a delayed Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home, 917 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. Memorial contributions may be given to Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries or Community Healing Center, in c/o the funeral home.
Age 58 of Kalamazoo, passed away October 30, 2024. Rob was born in Kalamazoo, on June 22, 1966, the son of Robert Calvin and Carol Anne (Tidmore) Bertrand. He was a graduate of Parchment High School and Olivet College. In high school he was an avid soccer player. At Olivet, he continued to play soccer and was active in the Kappa Sigma Alpha Fraternity. He has maintained lifetime relationships with many of his teammates and fraternity brothers. Rob continued to give back to the soccer community throughout his life through youth soccer programs both as a coach and referee. He was also an avid fisherman and hunter. Returning to his hometown after college, Rob was active in running the family business, Bee Clean Building Services with his mother, until the birth of his two beautiful daughters. For the coming years, he devoted his life to the care and nurturing of his girls, whom he loved and adored very much. He was an active and enthusiastic volunteer in their school while also being an incredible host and teacher to the girls and their friends. He also had a huge impact on many of his daughter's friends who he taught to down-hill ski. Rob is remembered by all of his nieces and nephews for all of his crazy and fun things they did with him growing up. Rob leaves to mourn his passing, daughters, Emma Bertrand of Kalamazoo and Samantha Bertrand of The Gold Coast, Australia; his father, Robert C. Bertrand; aunt, Patricia (Steve) Yamin; uncles, Jerald (Pam) Tidmore and Thomas (Tammy) Tidmore; and countless friends, including his former wife, Pam Lightvoet and her family. Rob was preceded in death by his mother.