Robert Alan Rimbo

Robert Alan “Bob” Rimbo

With the sure and certain hope that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of

God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31–39), we announce the death of Robert Alan

“Bob” Rimbo, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, former pastor, and former

Lutheran bishop. Bob died March 4, 2026, at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia,

South Carolina, at the age of 75.

Bob was born July 6, 1950, in Joliet, Illinois, to George P. Rimbo and Beverly Rimbo (née

Nichol). From an early age he knew he wanted to be a pastor. As children, Bob and his sister

would “play church” with neighborhood friends, Bob wearing makeshift vestments of his

mother’s black duster and a toilet paper stole. Music was another lifelong calling. At age five

he astonished family friends by sitting down at their piano and playing, with both hands, the

music he had heard in church earlier that morning.

Bob graduated from Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1972 and from

Christ Seminary–Seminex in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1976. He served congregations in

Michigan, New Jersey, and New York and held several roles in the wider church, including

assistant to the bishop in the Southeast Michigan Synod. He later served as bishop of the

Southeast Michigan Synod and bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod.

Throughout his ministry Bob was widely respected for his commitment to the church’s

worship life and for strengthening the liturgical practice of congregations. He was a published

author, including the book Why Worship Matters (Augsburg Publishing), and contributed to

the development of the Lutheran hymnals Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Evangelical

Lutheran Worship (2006). He frequently presented at the Institute of Liturgical Studies at

Valparaiso University and served on numerous boards and organizations related to worship,

music, and parish ministry.

Bob shared his life and ministry with his wife, Lois M. Rimbo (née Senechal), a devoted

educator and reading specialist who shared his love of learning, music, and the life of the

church.

Known for his wit, booming voice, and deep love of the church’s worship, Bob encouraged

generations of pastors, musicians, and congregations to approach liturgy with reverence, joy,

and theological depth. Among family and friends he was also remembered for his musical

humor, including his well-known piece, Reformation Rag.

Bob is survived by his wife, Lois; his children, Deborah Anne Rimbo and Justin Mark Rimbo;

his beloved grandchildren, Owen and Zoe Rimbo; and his sister, Janice (John H.) Rizzo. He

was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard Rimbo (Susan).

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, at Holy Trinity Lutheran

Church in Manhattan, New York. The service will be streamed at:

https://www.youtube.com/live/9Z50Lo18Nyg

Memorial gifts in honor of Bob may be made to the Robert Rimbo Memorial Fund at Holy

Trinity Lutheran Church, New York: https://tinyurl.com/rimbofund