Robert Claire Tomkins Jr.

Robert “Bob” Claire Tomkins, Jr., 78, of North Riverside, Illinois, passed away peacefully of heart failure September 18, 2025, at Hinsdale Hospital supported by family and friends. Initiated into the Catholic Church in 2022 at St. Mary’s Church, Riverside, a funeral mass will be held at another church within the St. Paul VI Parish, Mater Christi Catholic Church, North Riverside, IL, on Friday, Sept. 26, at 9am CST. All who knew and loved Bob are welcome to attend.

Born February 17, 1947, in Berwyn, IL, to Emmy Lou and Robert Tomkins, Sr., Bob spent most of his life living on both sides of the Des Plaines River in Riverside and North Riverside. Through his 28 years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Stewarts Private Blend Coffee, he also lived in Chicago, Denver, and Dallas. He enjoyed the variety of ways he promoted the coffee brand through his work as a guest star on radio and with special events.

Perhaps the proudest member of Riverside Brookfield High School’s Class of 1965, Bob treasured his many lifelong friends from his youth as he made new friends wherever he went. With a gift of gab sparked with lots of humor and wit, he was always a great conversationalist along with being an intellectual, a writer, a prolific reader, and a high school state champion swimmer. Always considered a fun, carefree, and genuine good guy, his stepson summarized it best, “Everybody loved Bob.”

Tomkins is preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law and special friend, Donald Stewart; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dody and Edward Kuda. He is survived by his devoted wife, Kimberly Zeman, (nee Kuda), with whom he was married for 19 years after dating 15 years for a total of 34 years together. He provided friendship and a listening ear to his stepchildren, Rebecca (Becky) Zeman and Sean Zeman, of Illinois; and his four grandchildren: Mason, Isaac, Alyssa and Mackenzie, who fondly called him Bob Bob. He also leaves behind his only sister, Deborah Hale Stewart; a nephew and niece Geoffrey Stewart (Elizabeth) and Stephanie Stewart (Antonio); and his great nieces and nephews: Emma, Evan, Isabella, and Aiden, all of Texas. In addition, he leaves his sister-in-law, Pamela Kuda Quinn (Michael); his nieces, Courtney Quinn and Kelly Arbabi (Alan); and his great niece and nephew, Erin and Quinn, all of Texas. As for Maestro and Piccolo, his spoiled and beloved black and white rescue cats, they will miss the constant treats he sneaked to them morning, noon, and night.

For those who cannot be with us in person, we invite you to share in the service through the Live stream link below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/LlNHCwP6jS8

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL