March 13, 1945 – January 8, 2024

Robert (Bob) was born to Hurbert and Ceceila Gieselman on March 13,1945 in Kamloops, B.C. He was the third son of eight children. Robert grew up in Chilliwack B.C., and at 17 he jumped on a train to Kamloops to become a mechanic’s helper. In 1967, he met the love of his life, Michele (Dunn) at the bank where she worked as a teller. He was shy, so it took several visits before he asked her on a date. They were married on September 13, 1969, and welcomed three blue-eyed girls to their family in the 1970s.

If something went wrong, the common saying in our family was “call Dad!”  Dad was someone his wife, three girls or any of his family and friends could rely on for help, guidance, or advice.  Dad was patient, kind, loving, and always wanted the best for his girls.

Dad had many passions over the years, specifically cars and skiing. Before having kids, he was heavily involved in car racing and that passion resulted eventually in becoming a member of the Kamloops Vintage Car Club. He began skiing in the late 60s at Tod Mountain, and when his three daughters were old enough, he taught them to ski and instilled in them his passion for the sport. He also volunteered as a ski patroller for several years at Sun Peaks Resort.  Other passions for Dad included fishing, camping, and cheering for the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, and the BC Lions. Our most cherished holiday was our annual family camping trip with our dog, Jojo, at Four Mile Creek on Shuswap Lake.

Robert gained experience in a variety of professions. In his late teens, he learned about automotive mechanics and set chokers as a logger. He was a motor sales rep and owned/operated service stations in Revelstoke and Cache Creek. In 1976, he drove a fuel truck while he completed his real estate course. He sold real estate and was the managing broker of several real estate franchises in Cache Creek and Kamloops for over 40 years. Robert also helped to inspire new realtors by teaching real estate courses for several years and as president of the Kamloops Real Estate Board.

In the late 70s and early 80s, he was elected as school district trustee and alderman of the Village of Cache Creek as well as an auxiliary RCMP member. Some of Robert’s accomplishments included petitioning to increase the highway through Cache Creek as a 4-lane highway as well as removing the last stop sign on the Trans-Canada Highway. He was a founding Director on the Community Futures Board in Ashcroft.

Robert is survived by Michele, their three daughters, Thérèse (Randy) Zulinick, Andrea Gieselman, Tiffany (Kelly) Hawkins and his cherished grandchildren Kate and Aaron. He is also survived by his brothers Lloyd and Richard, numerous sisters-in-law from the Gieselman and Dunn families, brothers-in-law of the Dunn family and nieces and nephews. Robert was predeceased by his parents and his siblings Barry, Don, Carole, Gerry, and Brian.

The service will take place on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Roman Catholic Church in Kamloops, B.C.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Red Cross, Mustard Seed, or the Salvation Army. A large thank you to the amazing staff on 6 South at Royal Inland Hospital including Tim, Scott, Diane, Theresa, Niko, Adrianne and April.

Dad, thank you for being an amazing father. We will miss you dearly.

You may offer a message of condolence at Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services for the Gieselman family.

• Date : 2024-01-08
• Location : Kamloops