Robert "Bob" E. Simpson

Bob was raised in East St. Louis and rural Millstadt. After graduating from Belleville Township High School, he enlisted in the US Navy during World War II as a Signalman Third Class, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans many times. He earned several medals including the Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal. He was later honored with a Quilt of Valor.

Returning home after the war, Bob attended McKendree College and became a teacher at several local schools, also earning his master’s degree at SIU Carbondale. He retired from Cahokia High School after many years as a driver’s education teacher, and in retirement he continued to help the elderly to attain and renew their driver’s licenses. With his wife Helen, he raised four children, and volunteered as a baseball coach and Boy Scout leader. Bob was interested in genealogy and created detailed family trees. He researched local history, with particular interest in one-room schoolhouses, old railroads and abandoned mines. He enjoyed watching sports, farming and helping with Schaller Auctions. Bob especially loved to find and share “treasures” and old pictures, and he liked to take drives all over the area. At home, he could often be found mowing the lawn or sitting outside in his chair, waving to anyone who honked as they passed and welcoming people who stopped to visit.

As a proud veteran, Bob was a VFW Life Member of Post #7980 and a member of American Legion Post #502. He was very active in the VFW into his 90s, including working bingos, fish fries and other events, and marching and handing out flags in the Millstadt Homecoming Parade every year.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Anna (nee Killian) Simpson; brother, Samuel Warren Simpson (the late Charlotte Simpson and Betty Simpson); daughter-in-law, Kathy Simpson; and grandson-in-law, Jared Emig.

Bob is survived by his wife of 73 years, Helen (nee Lopinot) Simpson; children, Jim Simpson, Pat (Randy) Hart, Sue Simpson, and Nancy (Jason) Robertson; grandchildren, Kim (Jason) Stambaugh, Steve (Ashlee) Simpson, Jen (Javy) Murguia, Christy Hart, Lisa Emig (Justin Detmer), and Michael Robertson; great grandchildren, Alejo, Teryn, Bella and Hudson Simpson, Andrew Stambaugh, Marco and Arianna Murguia, and Briar and Lennon Emig; and many nephews and nieces.

Friends may visit on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 10am-12pm, followed by the service at noon at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Pkwy W, Belleville, IL 62223. He will then be laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with well-deserved military honors at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Robert's memory may be made to Millstadt VFW POST #7980, 200 S Veterans Dr, Millstadt, IL 62260.