Bob was born on June 28, 1944, in Kenosha, WI. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1962 and attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, where he earned a degree in Industrial Design. Bob worked until his retirement at Renquist Associates in Racine, WI, where he designed everything from hair dryers to large-scale mining vehicles.

On June 3, 1967, Bob married Jinine Ramacci. They lived in Kenosha until their retirement, when they moved to Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton.

Bob's second love (after his wife and children) was cars. Driving cars, drawing cars, reading about cars, cleaning cars for hours and watching cars race. He spent many weekends at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Great Lakes Dragaway, and Indianapolis for the Indy 500 time trials. He owned Corvairs, Fiats, BMWs, Audis, Volkswagens, Mercedes and perhaps his favorite: a black 1981 Porsche 911SC. His family grew up with the constant sound of auto racing on the television.

Bob was known for his quick wit, which kept his family laughing despite the challenge of Parkinson's disease. He was also known for his devotion to modern design, an aesthetic that was both ahead of its time and inspiring to his children in their careers and homes.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Wanda Giese. He will be remembered by his wife Jinine, his daughter Kirsten (Brian) Halloran of Minneapolis, MN, and his son, Ryan, of New York, NY. He will be missed by his grandsons, Declan and Liam Halloran.

Bob is survived by his sister Linda (Michael) Strunk, niece Jennifer Santelli and nephew Jeff Strunk. He is also survived by sister- and brother-in-laws Jill and Chris Bacus, Jim and Sally Fumo, and Susan Decker, as well as nieces and nephews Nathaniel, Emily, Allison and Nick.

A memorial for Bob will be held in Kenosha at a later date.

Memorial donations will be given to earth angel Faye Crawford, Bob's loyal caregiver and an integral part of the Giese family. Send in care of Jinine Giese, P.O. Box 3193, Bluffton, SC, 29910.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Kenosha News on Jul. 19, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Giese

24 Entries

Allison

July 13, 2024

I´m now a F1 watching up north at our cabin fisherwoman ( I caught one bass and proclaimed it) I miss you- we´d be having some laughs over it all! Love you Uncle Bob!

Allison Quartuccio

July 14, 2023

You know what time of year it is... HHI time! Monarch has gone thru tons of changes- gone are the 3 hot tubs replaced with one big one but one thing remains the same in which the Wk 29´ers all gather for a week on the beach doing NOTHING. Wishing you were here with us!
P.s. I´m totally addicted to F1 now due to the Netflix series and fully understand and support why you always spent Sunday in the condo watching the race

Love you!
Allie

Mike Serpe

July 13, 2023

Once again, we´re reminded of what we had and lost all to soon. It was a great run.

Jerry Hubbard

July 13, 2023

When I think of Bob I remember the double dates with cousins Donna and Jinine and the late night beer runs in his black 55 ford with the bucket seats and how we solved all the worlds problems! You are missed and not forgotten!

Allison

July 14, 2022

HHI is next week! I´m excited to visit your bride and wouldn´t you know it after all this time my dad is living down there, a few blocks away. Miss you all the time but even more coming into week 29. Party cart 4eva!

Gilbert

July 14, 2021

... great friend and fishing buddy. Rest in peace.

Allison

July 13, 2021

Hilton Head in 2 weeks Uncle Bob- will throw back a Yeungling ( or 6 ;) )in your honor. You would have loved your memorial, although it was so " you" it was hard to imagine you weren´t right there with us. Miss and Love you!

Samuel Chell

June 25, 2021

Rain could not dampen the spirits of the capacity group gathered for the celebration of Bob Giese's life, at the Park Hall and Garden in Kenosha, June 24, 2021. When the rain came, the party moved indoors for a large yet intimate sharing of memories and talent (grandsons Declan and Liam left behind their Casio electric and performed on a "real," acoustic upright). Tears and laughter were intermingled as Jinine shared memories of Bob from high school up to his last days, when his quick wit won him the steadfast affections of Faye Crawford [a Southern earth angel like Faulkner's Dilsey]. Daughter Kirsten and son Ryan picked up from their mom by offering their own anecdotes about a dad who, as became increasingly clear, didn't back down an inch to Parkinson's.

(I could have stayed all day, but I had to help my daughter Melissa, who was with me, transport her family to Minnesota that very same night. From being next-door childhood friends in Kenosha (literally) to co-residents in the city of Minneapolis, the lives of Kirsten and Melissa--much like Bob Giese's--struck me as proof of the old saying: "You can take the resident out of the city, but you can never remove the city from the traveler." Eventually, our lives intersect, and this fresh, rainy afternoon was such an occasion.

Jim and Sally Fumo

July 22, 2020

To Jinine and Family, What a "GREAT" brother-in-law! Always there for you and always excellent conversation. Over 50 yrs ago I learned to drive stick shift on his Corvair. Last year we drove around in his golf cart. Will be missed and the memories will always be with me and my family. God Bless Bob!

MikeSerpe

July 21, 2020

Bob was one of the pithiest, sardonic wits I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Working alongside of him and Steve Bobusch on Judge S. Michael Wilk’s campaign for circuit court judge was the absolute highlight of my electoral endeavors.
Now, sadly, he, Steve and Michael will not be around for further meetings of “The Scotch Club”, but the great memories will be with me and Joan forever.
See ya later, guys.

Lou Rugani

July 21, 2020

Bob Geise, Mike Conklin and myself were great pals throughout the last years of the old Kenosha CYO Band ... Mike and myself on baritone and Bob in the color guard. Great times at eighteen.

Fred Potts

July 21, 2020

We were sorry to hear of Bob's passing. Prior to his retirement he often joined our group for an adult beverage at Cooler near the Lake on Wed. afternoons. We enjoyed his sense of humor and wit.

Matt Maholchic

July 20, 2020

Dearest Jinine, I remember the great night I spent talking "Easy Rider" with Bob. He was a wonderful guy and so lucky to have married such a great lady. God bless.

Leah Kondes

July 20, 2020

Kirsten, I am so sorry.

Ronald Sands

Planted Trees

George Propsom

July 20, 2020

Jinine and family:
Sorry for your loss. A lot of great north side memories and riding home from Layton on Fridays with Bob and Tom. Your apartment on Prospect etc. RIP BOB!!!

Rosanne Rygiel

July 19, 2020

So sorry to see that Bob died. He and Tom Agazzi gave me a ride from Kenosha to Layton School of Art in Milwaukee from 1964 to 1966. I was so lucky for the ride and for his great company. Gone too soon.

Jerry Charles Hubbard

July 19, 2020

Good bye old buddy. We had some great times in the old 56 Ford-you were a good friend and a great guy. You will never be forgotten.

Allison Quartuccio

July 19, 2020

I always looked up to you as one of the coolest men I knew. I LOVED the 5th ave house and your sense of design and style. I love that when I close my eyes I can still see myself there. But it was our trips to Hilton Head that will always stand out. You driving while I was the only one awake in the car, the time we were all stuck under the oasis with a flat tire, Sharkys Pizza, the legendary party cart, our afternoons in Lands End Tavern eating onion rings and drinking beer, and so many more. We made each other laugh with our mutual sarcasm and thats what I will miss the most. Your laughter. Next week we would normally be drinking some wine and youd make me laugh so Im your honor I will raise several glasses and toast you while eating junk food knowing you are right there with me. Love you always Uncle Bob!

Gilbert Deming

July 19, 2020

I spent a lot of time with Bob at the car races and fishing the Mississippi River. I will miss Bob ...

Cam Ziminski

July 19, 2020

Bob was my older cousin and I remember him with a big smile! He was sassy, irreverent, and always seemed to chase those rebellious ideas of his generation. I spent countless hours with him and my cousin Linda. He was a big brother I never had, even though he just thought of me as a silly girl. Some of my first memories of him are that he always had his head under the hood of his (probably) first old car, fixing this or that. My heart goes out to Jinine, Ryan, Kirsten, Linda, and Jennifer. We'll all miss his hysterical sense of humor and easy laugh.

Joanne (Navoiczyk) Boman

July 19, 2020

We were friends, neighbors and classmates from 2nd grade on. My best memory was Bob and I riding the bus home from high school and his saying he wanted to meet Jinine Ramacci more than anything else. So, I had a party in my basement and the rest is history. I'll remember him as one of the best men I ever knew.

Jill, Chris & Nathaniel Bacus

July 18, 2020

Bob,
So many wonderful memories to share, but the one that puts the smile on my face was your witty sense of humor, your quick one line responses & your love for Krispy Kreme donuts! We love you, and know that you're forever in our hearts.❤
Love,
Jill, Chris & Nathaniel

Gene Decker

July 18, 2020

If I had a dollar for every laugh and beer we shared I'd be - - well I am richer for knowing you all these years buddy

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