Robert Hoge Hamilton, 78, of Winsted, MN, previously of Edina, MN, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

We are deeply saddened by Bob’s death from prostate and bone cancer.

Bob is preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Lee; parents, Robert Cooley and Josephine Abigail Hamilton; and wife, Pamela Van Hove Hamilton.

Bob was a caring and optimistic man. He believed in people. In each of us, he found our best attributes, highlighted them, and cheered us on.

He was a proud and caring father and grandfather who was quick to share positive stories about his family to all he met. He was driven by his ideas of how the world should be and worked hard to bring them to life (whether in business, home design, or planning family holidays).

When we think of Bob, we remember his enthusiasm, his desire to treat people well, and his dignity.

Bob was born and grew up as an only child in DeWitt, NY, having lost his sister before he was born and persevered through the early loss of his father at age 17.

His parents instilled in him the importance of family and friends, faith, education, and doing good for others. Bob took an active role in his church, working as a youth counselor and leader on a life-changing trip around the world.

In 1963, he enrolled in Wesleyan University, majoring in economics, and thereafter Syracuse University, where he received a masters degree in business.

At Syracuse, Bob met Judy Snook, whom he married in 1969.

His go-getter attitude landed him his first job at General Foods as product manager for Brim Coffee based in White Plains, NY.

In 1970, he and Judy had their first child, Chris.

In 1974, Bob followed his entrepreneurial spirit and moved to Edina to eventually start what would become a successful marketing strategy consulting firm, Core Group.

Bob’s second son, Hiram, was born in 1975, and the business grew to 60-plus employees over the next 20 years. Always the perpetual entrepreneur, Bob would later create multiple ventures including PowerTwo, a charitable giving start-up, and pursue his passion for home design and restoration.

In the course of this journey, Bob met Pam Van Hove, whom he married in 2011 and who would become the light of his later life. They created a beautiful home together in Winsted and loved traveling to spend time with grandkids, nieces, nephews, and family.

No matter where Bob went or what he was working on, he had an incredible impact on the people around him. With Bob, anything was possible.

He is survived by sons, Chris (Anna) Hamilton and Hiram (Medora Mrachek) Hamilton; and grandchildren, Grace, Luke, Soren, Adelaide, Winslette, Sevilla, Emmeline, and Hawthorne.

A funeral service will take place Friday, April 28, 2023, at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina at 10 a.m. A live webcast will be available at cpconline.org.