Robert Von Nessen passed away on May 1, 2025 at age 88.
Despite illnesses in recent years, he will always be remembered as a devoted and fun loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved God and lived his life to serve God’s people.
Bob was born on May 19, 1936 in Washington, D.C. and worked with the Department of Recreation while in school at D.C. Teacher’s College for his B.S. and then worked as a science teacher to Middle Schoolers in Montgomery County, MD, where he remained throughout his career. After obtaining a Master’s at the University of Maryland, he found his true love as a PPW, working with difficult, troubled or otherwise challenged youth with any special needs and placing them in an appropriate setting for their success.
Bob married Verna Ruth Kinion in 1960 and they had 3 beautiful children who now have their own grandchildren:
Kathryn (deceased) Daughter Rebecca who has children Aubrey, Brayleigh and Camden.
Karen ( with Dennis) Son Ben ( with Emily) has children Ray and Dennis and son Matthew ( with Shannon) have sons Wyatt and Weston.
Bobby ( with Lisa) have daughters Liz ( m.Ryan), Sarah ( Alex) and Victoria(Jake) who have a daughter Lilith.
Bob married Lynn in 1981, and retired in 1984. We moved to Ocean City, MD and offered our services to the Snow Hill Jail, as the inmates asked for AA meetings.
Bob served in the jail and prison systems until health reasons prohibited, a total of 44 years taking AA and Catholic Church services to various jails.He has the distinction of a card permitting entry to any jail or prison in the U.S.
In 1986, Bob and Lynn moved to Daytona Beach, FL, continuing to serve in the jail system and additionally serving in the St. Vincent DePaul Society.We also fed homeless on the street with lunch bags made in our kitchen and also gathered shoes, warm clothing, sleeping bags, etc. for a number of years.
Bob had always wanted to travel, and we took 2 long car trips to see every National Park in the U.S., plus a number of National Monuments. We took 37 cruises together, and enjoyed summers in Vermont and the mountains of North Carolina for many years. We especially enjoyed exploring Europe, Canada all over, and Alaska.
In 2014, we moved to Lakeview Terrace and feel so blessed by the wonderful staff and neighbors here. In December, Bob celebrated 51 years of sobriety.
We are recent to St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, and so appreciative of seeing families and a devoted, active congregation. On May 1st, Bob passed peacefully and will be missed by many.