Memorial Mass for Robert Pembroke age 82 of Mobridge will be 11a.m. Thursday, November 6, 2014 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. A Liturgical Prayer Service will be 7:30 p.m. CST Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at the church. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. MST Friday, November 7, 2014 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. Robert passed away Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Mobridge Regional Hospital. Arrangements are with Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Bob was born at Turton, SD to George Leo Pembroke and Anna Mae Conley. He was the sixth of seven children. His sense of humor was inherent at birth when his mother almost delivered him in an outhouse at his family's rural home. Luckily, a close family friend attended a quick delivery inside the family's rural farmhouse.

Bob's early years were influenced by the Great Depression. While his family had a very meager standard of living, he always said they never considered they were poor. There was a strong family value where everyone helped each other selflessly and with humor. His first job was for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad collecting coal that had fallen from the rail cars. He frequently claimed he had a social security card even before his dad. Young Bobbie was known for mischievousness – moving outhouses, hiding books in the schoolhouse ductwork, and sneaking out to the outhouse for cigarettes. He was able to avoid punishment with his winning, warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. Bob graduated from Turton High School in 1950 as Valedictorian (a class of four) and captain of the basketball team. He was always proud to be a Turton Frog.

On January 16, 1951, Bob enlisted in the US Navy, serving as diesel mechanic on ships serving in the Pacific Ocean. He was a veteran of the Korean War, and finished his four year enlistment on January 12, 1955. While in the Navy, Bob helped to financially support his widowed mother and younger sister by having his military pay sent directly home. His mother would then send him $10 for his monthly personal expenses.

Bob returned to South Dakota and worked as a carpenter, living on his sister LaVerne and Orval Hausvik's farm east of Turton. This farm was a favorite place for Bob to visit to the end. In 1958, during pheasant season, he met Jeannette Geigel of Huron, SD when her family came to hunt on the farm. He always teased that the only hunting done that year was by Jeannette.
Bob moved to Huron in 1959, working with his brother Leonard at Jones Garage, and as a carpenter at Groves Construction and Pisek Construction. Bob and Jeannette married on June 6, 1960 at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Huron, SD.

During their time in Huron, Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and time with family. It is also where he and Jeannette welcomed their three children, Mary, Billy and Jimmy. The young family remodeled their single level ranch style home into the only 2-story home on the block, spending a year living in the basement and sleeping in a single bedroom. In this home, he engineered a clothes chute just small enough for kids not to fall through, though it was certainly tried. In 1969, Bob moved the family to Rapid City, SD to become the carpentry instructor for Black Hills Area Vocational School. Over the next 10 years, the family would build 2 more houses on evenings and weekends. In 1980, Bob left adult education to work for the Pennington County Highway Department, retiring as Foreman at Hill City in 1996.

In 1996, Bob and Jeannette moved to Mobridge, SD where they enjoyed fishing any day and time they (i.e. Bob) wanted. He named his boat Nettie in honor and persuasion of Jeannette. Even in retirement, Bob did carpentry work remodeling their home and building guest cabins at Indian Creek. Bob always enjoyed drives to check construction sites, fishing activity on the Missouri River, to see what was happening on Main Street, and to enjoy a cup of coffee at Bridge City Bait. Bob's love of road travel also meant numerous road trips to visit family throughout the US and Canada.

Bob was the last surviving member of the George and Annie Mae family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Leonard Pembroke, his sisters Lucille Nazro, LaVerne Hausvik, Maggie Labrie, Vera Pillen, and an infant sister, Mary.
Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeannette, his daughter Mary of Rapid City, sons Bill (Teresa) of Flower Mound, TX and Jim (Lisa) of Phoenix, AZ, six grandchildren (Emily, Alyssa, Andrew, Bailey, Cole and Jenna) two great grandchildren (Evelyn and Henry), a brother-in-law Fred Nazro and sister-in-law Tillie Pembroke.

Bob is lovingly remembered for his wit and sense of humor, his ability to fix anything (he always had the right tool, or reason to purchase one), his commitment to family through activities such as fishing, camping, coaching, and building. Lastly, Bob is remembered as a quietly faithful member of the Catholic Church, from altar boy to altar builder. He prayed quietly, and enjoyed listening to favorite gospel hymns which carried him home.