Robert (Bob) Kim Gebing

Robert (Bob) Kim Gebing, age 75, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on August 1, 2023 in Fort Myers, Florida after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Bob was the son of Robert John Lawrence Gebing and Regina Adele Gebing (Hennig), born in Miami, Florida on January 21, 1948. He was a devoted husband, dad, papaw, brother, uncle and friend to many.

He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Sandra Gebing, his son Robert Jr. and wife Lisa, his daughter Stephanie DeLuca and husband Vincenzo, and his grandchildren, Alex Gebing and Cece DeLuca. He is also survived by his siblings Richard Gebing (Cheryl), Carol Welesko (Donald), Linda Desjardins (Chris), sister-in-law Jean Gebing (Tom) and many nieces and nephews (Richard, Kim, Jennifer, Jason, Matthew, Sara, Tara, Hollie and Michael).

Raised in Miami, FL, Bob was the eldest of five children and helped out tremendously around the house with his younger siblings. Bobby, as his mom affectionately called him, was always there for his family, and the protector of those he loved. He was an altar boy at a young age and enjoyed being a Boy Scout and running his own paper route.

After graduating from Christopher Columbus High School in 1967, Bob received his undergraduate degree from The University of West Florida at Pensacola in 1971 and was certified by the State of Florida as a Public Accountant in 1973. Before joining Olin Corporation in March 1974, he was a Certified Public Accountant for Ernst and Ernst. Throughout his career, Bob was known for his passion, integrity and constant drive to do the right thing.

Moving rapidly through positions of increasing responsibility, the leadership at Olin quickly realized the talent Bob had and recruited him to develop and launch Olin's Ethics and Business Integrity Program. His leadership and determination helped shape their program into a world class example for other companies to follow. His boss at the time applauded him as the "driver and creative genius behind the entire program. He's made me a believer in just how much you can lever high developed computer skills into performance way beyond that expected of just one person." After 33 years of dedicated service, he retired in March 2007 as the Vice President, Auditing, Business Ethics and Integrity and Olin's Chief Ethics Officer.

Sandy, whom he met while working at Olin, truly was the love of his life and he affectionately called her his "angel." They married in 1989 and for 15 years resided in Milford, CT. In 2004, they moved to East Alton, IL for work but eventually settled into the sunshine state which they have called home for more than 17 years. They made many beautiful memories together over the years golfing, traveling, doting on their grandchildren, fishing, biking, spending time with friends and family and enjoying each day together. "Enjoy life, this is not a dress rehearsal," was a motto that Bob loved and lived by.

He was forever proud of his children and grandchildren, touting them as his "greatest accomplishments." Bob was joyfully known as "Papaw" to Alex and Cece loving them greater than he ever imagined possible. His canine children were also very dear to him. Bailee has stayed behind with Sandy, but Fancy, Mik, Jake and Annie are on a long walk with him now.

Bob had a long love affair with golf. He scored his first (and only) hole in one on June 22, 1972 at West Lakes Golf Course at Boca Raton with his grandfather. Through the years, his game developed and he was best known for his long drives and love of birdies. He formed deep friendships while on the course. He was blessed to have played at some of the best courses in the world including Pebble Beach, Winged Foot, Whistling Straits, Kapalua and the Robert Trent Jones Trail. But golf wasn't Bob's only passion. He also loved woodworking, fishing, fixing things around the house and traveling with Sandy in their RV to many new destinations.

Bob's personality was incredibly dynamic. He was a loyal friend to so many. He was best known for his kindness, humility, generosity and desire to always help others. His compassion for others was genuine and his pleasant disposition was admired by everyone he met. He was one of the quiet guys, that always did the right thing and looked for opportunities to help others but never wanted to take credit. He had an enormous heart and a wonderful (very dry) sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, and brave. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences. He could fix just about anything and was called on frequently for computer support and tax advice by many.

With a passion for knowledge and giving back to his community, Bob began volunteering his time with the United Way supporting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program. His commitment to supporting the elderly with their tax needs speaks volumes to his character and he made a tremendous impact on many lives in this capacity. He truly enjoyed this work for many years until he stepped down in 2020 when COVID restricted his ability to interact with the public due to his lung condition.

He will be remembered for all the love and kindness he shared with his friends and family. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and grace. The emails, texts, phone calls, letters, cards, and visits Bob received during the final weeks of his life were a tremendous source of joy, peace, and comfort to him. He will be missed dearly.

A mass will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 11:30 at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 13060 Palomino Lane, Fort Myers, FL. A luncheon will follow at The Plantation Golf & Country Club, 10500 Dartington Drive, Fort Myers, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Bob can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation by visiting PFF (givesmart.com) or to Paws4You.org, a non-profit, volunteer, donor-subsidized animal rescue organization focused on sheltering, fostering and placing dogs into loving homes.