Robert Glenn Simpson entered into eternal life on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at the age of 89. He was the devoted husband to his beloved wife of 64 years, Grace (Gale) and the loving and proud father of Gail (Robert) Wolf, Robert (Patricia), Mark (Margaret), Peter (Jean), Mary, James, and Eileen (James) Gould. Bob was a proud grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to 1. He was the loving brother to Eileen (Frank) Muriello and the Reverend Roger Simpson. Bob was born on the South side of Chicago on May 6, 1924. After attending St. Ignatius High School, he was drafted into the United States Army at the age of 18. Serving in the 45th Division, 157th Regiment, 1st Battalion Company A, Bob’s Division logged 540 days of front-line combat, more than any other Division in the entire war. Among his many wartime experiences, Bob was at the Invasion of Anzio, the capture of Munich, and the liberation of Dachau. During the war, Bob was injured twice; one injury was severely life threatening, yet after recuperating, he continued his service for a total of 2 ½ years. After the war, Bob returned to Chicago and graduated from Loyola University.
Bob married his true love, Grace (Lulie) Gale on November 5, 1949 and settled with his new family in Oak Park, Illinois. His business career was in the catalogue merchandise industry. He was a Vice President at John Plain & Company and was subsequently hired as Manager of the Catalogue Division of Amway Corporation in 1972. Bob retired as an Amway Vice-President in 2000. A man of deep faith and love of Jesus Christ, Bob served God, family, and neighbor with the same single-minded strength and dedication with which he served his country. He possessed a brilliant mind and a lightening-fast wit; he entertained everyone with his master storytelling and infectious laugh. Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him will feel his loss deeply. We take comfort in the knowledge that Bob has gone home to God, who gave us the gift of this wonderful man. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Friday 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1935 Plymouth SE, Msgr. Ernest P. Schneider, presiding. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. Vigil service will be Thursday at 6:00 PM. Visitation will be Thursday 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. SE. Memorials may be made to The Killgoar Foundation, Juvenile Arthritis Foundation or the Martin Sweet Foundation (Women’s City Club).
