Robert Patrick Mernin

Robert Patrick Mernin passed away suddenly July 30, 2024 in his home. He was born March 13, 1939 to William Mernin and Mary Mernin (nee Collins) in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, the youngest of six children born to the couple. Robert was raised by his aunt and uncle after his mother's death. He served in the Army, including service for the Army Security Agency in Europe and as a green beret in Vietnam, specializing as a radio operator. He earned the Vietnam Service and Campaign medals and the Army Commendation medal. After his military career, he studied at the University of Arizona, the University of California at San Francisco, and later at San Diego City College.  

In 1985, Robert met Grace Doreen Kammeyer while working as the night emergency room clerk at Mission Bay Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California. They fell in love, eventually moved in together, and later, in 2001, married. They remained together until Grace's passing in 2011 at the age of 72.  

Robert is survived by Grace's children, Beth Fink, John Kammeyer, and Thomas Kammeyer; Beth's husband Scott and their children Ethan, Dana, and Jett; John's wife Tammy and their daughters Krystal and Lexi; Thomas's wife Joan Bartel and their children Taylor Kammeyer and Samuel Dwyer; as well as his nieces and nephews William ("Terry"), Keith, Jim, Barry, Laurie (Dumas), Karen, Tracy, Gibby, Monica, and their spouses and children.  

A small, graveside service for Robert will be held at 11am on Tuesday, August 20 at Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison, Wisconsin (guests are requested to arrive by 10:50am). Robert will be laid to rest with military honors, in the plot next to Grace's. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heat for Heroes Campaign (https://heat4heroes.org).