Robert (Bobb) James Trumbull Jr.

Robert (Bobb) James Trumbull Jr. passed peacefully on Saturday May 10th following a recurrence of cancer.  He was twice widowed and was preceded in death by his beloved rescue dog Lady, whom he would have said rescued him. Bobb was a spouse, father, grandfather, brother, friend, contractor, small business owner, veteran, and much more. However, his most cherished title had always been that of dad and grandpa. He was a father many times over, having had foster kids, step kids, biological kids, and adopted kids, yet to him, we were all just his kids. He loved without limits and without qualifications. Later in life, his love extended even further, overflowing to his many grandkids and then great grandkids. 

Bobb was an avid fisherman and took anyone that wanted to join him out on the water.  He didn’t even have to catch anything to make it a worthwhile trip; just the company of the water was enough.  However, all of us who joined him knew that we’d better bring our quarters and more than likely not plan to keep them, as Bobb outfished most of us each and every time. There was a simplicity about fishing that was reminiscent of his life as a whole.  Enjoy the moments, bring others with you, don’t overcomplicate things. It was a lesson we all learned as he taught us to fish, but perhaps only appreciated as we grew and settled into lives of our own. 

If he could have fished for a living he would have, but instead he took up many trades. Bobb was a true ‘jack of all trades’ and he frequently received phone calls from one of us looking for his expertise. Whether it was about cars, carpentry, remodeling, plumbing, electric, or just about anything else, he always seemed to know what to do and never hesitated to lend a hand.  During his years working in various capacities, he used this knowledge to not just do his job, but to serve the communities he was in. He always went the extra mile, taking time to not just fix things, but to get to know people and meet needs wherever he could.  You simply couldn’t know Bobb without also being the beneficiary of his generosity. He was a man who cared little for money but only about how he could use it to benefit others. He remodeled friends' kitchens and bathrooms, built sets for church and school dramas, and even fully remodeled a church youth room just for the love of others. His lasting legacy will always be one of generosity; of heart and hand, time, talent, and treasures. He will be deeply missed and his memory forever cherished.

A service of remembrance will take place on Monday May 26th at 11:00am, Hilltop Nazarene Church, 21260 Haggerty Rd, Northville MI. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Detroit River Youth Fishing Team, DRYFT, whose mission is to empower generations of youth to learn to fish and care for their local watershed.  

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