GREEN BAY – Robert Anthony (Bob) Gmack passed away on August 30, 2021, at age 92, after a short battle with cancer. Bob was born on May 15th, 1929 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to the late Antone (Tony) and Rose (Hannon) Gmack.

Bob grew up in Door County and enjoyed ice skating and playing basketball. In his early teens, he delivered boxed lunches to shipbuilders for Plex Dairy. Later he delivered for Reynolds cherry orchards. Due to his charm, loyalty, and persistence, he was promoted from delivery boy to managing orchard workers older than him. He also worked for the railroad in Sturgeon Bay rowing a boat to the west side of the railroad bridge to climb a ladder and crank a lever to move the track to signal the bridge to close so the train could cross. The train carried German POWs to work in a cherry pitting factory. When the family lived in Green Bay, he worked briefly for a hardware store at the corner of Walnut and Broadway.

Bob's family moved to Green Bay during his senior year, where he attended and graduated from West High. He met the love of his life, Trudy Mommaerts, at a teen dance at Bay Beach. Trudy and Bob were married October 21, 1950 in the chapel of Annunciation Church. Trudy passed away on December 30 ^th , 2019. In 2021, they would have celebrated 71 years of marriage.

After Trudy and Bob were married, Bob joined his father at Gmack Television and Appliance. When Tony retired, Bob took over the business and Trudy became the bookkeeper. Bob was a very hard-working businessman, and the success of the family business was a great source of pride for him. In the late 1990s, he passed the family business to his son Jim after a long and prosperous career.

Bob was an incredibly social person and loved spending time with friends and family. Perhaps his favorite pastime was a friendly round of golf, but also enjoyed visiting friends at cottages up north and wintering with friends in Florida. Bob and Trudy visited many countries in Europe and enjoyed vacations all over the United States. Bob made friends and connections everywhere he went and often could not finish a meal at a restaurant without stopping to say hello to someone he knew.

Bob and Trudy enjoyed hosting get-togethers where friends and family played games and cards and cheered on the Packers. Bob was a devoted Packer fan and a season ticket holder. In younger years he never missed a game, whether it be on television or in person. He was infamous for his fiery reactions to any "bad calls."

Bob often spoke about the importance of family. In 1970, Bob and Trudy's son, John, died in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. In his memory, Trudy, Bob, and family attended every Memorial Day ceremony at the Green Bay Vietnam Memorial since services began 43 years ago. One of Bob's favorite pastimes was to take a drive to visit his grandchildren or to have everyone over for a family dinner. He was very proud of all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and never missed a soccer game, dance recital, graduation, or other life event. In his twilight years, visits from his family were a bright and welcome part of daily routine.

Bob was passionate about giving back to community. He volunteered for years at St. Vincent DePaul and played an active role at St. Agnes and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Green Bay. He delivered for Meals on Wheels and was very active in the West Side Kiwanis Club.

Survivors include two daughters, Jill (Gary) Amel, and Nancy (Jim) Fonder, two sons, Jim (Lois Karls) Gmack, and Joel (Lynn) Gmack. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Jon Amel, Jennifer (Mark) Ronsman, Toni (Ian) Wilson, Beth (Keith) Kerrigan, Lisa (Andy) La Luzerne, Jordan Gmack, Elyse Gmack, Brock Carlson and Reid Carlson.  Bob is further survived by eight great-grandchildren: Nolan and Carter Wilson, Blake, Parker, and Paige Kerrigan, Zoey Ronsman, and Madelyn and Eva La Luzerne.

In addition to his son John, Bob was preceded in death by his wife Gertrude (Trudy), his parents, Tony and Rose Gmack, one stillborn son, Jerome, his sister Marion and her husband, Dr. C.W Crawford, his sisters-in-law and their spouses, Lorraine (Dick) Massey, Bernice (Bernie) La Luzerne, Bonnie (Dick) Barrette, and Millie (Vern) Bain, two nieces, Karen (Crawford) Murrill and Charlene (Massey) Coisman, and two nephews, Mark Massey and Steve Barrette.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff at Woodside Lutheran Home's Hollyberry staff, where Bob spent his last days and Gina from Unity Hospice, as well as the staff who cared for him at Bellevue Retirement Community, where he lived many happy years. Family also thanks Bob's nieces and nephew – Carol Gibson, Sally La Luzerne-Oi, Mary Crawford, and Bill Crawford for their care and concern during Bob's illness.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 3-5 pm with a service to follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green Bay, WI. Father James Dillenburg will officiate with Sister Marla Clercx assisting. Pfotenhauer Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.PfotenhauerFuneralHome.com .

Donations in Bob's name will be given to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 224 and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 3, both of Green Bay, as well as the new Veterans Village Association, Inc. in Appleton which is a first of its kind facility providing housing, support and a sense of community to veterans.