Colin Geoffrey "Geoff" Gammans

Colin Geoffrey "Geoff" Gammans, age 82, passed away on February 20, 2025 in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Born May 4, 1942, in Lancing, Sussex, England, to parents Cynthia Lillian Ruby Bushby and Colin William Noel Gammans.

Geoff will be remembered lovingly by his family and as the polite, soft-spoken British gentleman to all those who knew him. He was a man of few words, preferring instead to put pen to paper in the most eloquent handwriting. Known for his quiet demeanor, and signature raised eyebrow to express his delight when something was 'quite nice', he was a deeply sentimental and proud man that loved his family beyond measure.

Geoff started his career in the UK as a Design Engineer working for Ricardo, in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, from 1960 until February 1978 when he emigrated to the United States with his family. After a short stint working for Kingsbury in Keene, New Hampshire, he relocated to Racine, Wisconsin, where he worked for J.I. Case Company until 1984. He then headed north to Sheboygan where he worked for Kohler Company, before moving to Carol Stream, Illinois in 1989 where he worked for Navistar (FKA International Harvester, now International Motors), until his retirement in 2008. In 2023, he moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family, residing at Fairway Knoll Retirement community .

Over the years Geoff acquired several hobbies including gardening and antiquing, but his favourite pastime was collecting vintage Cigarette trade cards where he spent many weekends scouring flea markets and antique shows throughout the Midwest, then meticulously and methodically documenting each one. He also enjoyed collecting vintage Matchbox cars and trucks from England, and listening to music by his favourite artists including, Gordon Lightfoot, Leon Redbone and Julio Iglesias.

Geoff is preceded in death by his wife, Lauren M. Gammans (nee Coon) of Carol Stream, Illinois; and beloved daughter Tracey K. Bjorklund (Daniel) of Mebane, North Carolina. He is survived by his first wife and mother of his three children, Dorothy J. Corwin (Doug), affectionately known to him as "Doll", of Sussex, Wisconsin; daughters Lisa J. Taormina (partner Ronald Wondra) of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Andrea S. Gammans of Charlotte, North Carolina; granddaughters, Olivia S. Johnson of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Isabel S. Taormina of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; brother Peter J. Gammans (Ellen) of Keene, New Hampshire; nephew's Gary Gammans (Renee) and Carl Gammans of New Hampshire; and step-son James Wagner of Illinois.

A special thank-you to the wonderful staff at Fairway Knoll, especially the Resident Aides in the Arbor Memory Care unit, as well as Brighton Hospice staff, who took great care of him in his final days.

God bless, Dad. We love you dearly and already miss your frequent requests for iced coffee, cheese, crisps and biscuits. Until we meet again...