Robert F. Gieselman

Robert Frederick (Stork) Gieselman, best known as Bob, was born Sept. 13th 1918 at a log cabin in Duluth in northern Minnesota to Rudolph Friedrick Stork and Dora A. (Kurrasch) Stork. The family was part of the worst forest fire in Minnesota history known as the Moose Lake fire of 1918. At the same time in history, the greatest flu pandemic also ensued. One of these horrible events took the life of his mother. It is told that his mother saved Bob from the fire by taking him to a nearby stream or river. Dora died and it is unknown if the fire or the flu took her life. Shortly after, Bob was adopted and raised by foster parents in Fremont, NE �" Anna and Bill Gieselman. He graduated from Fremont High School and attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. He served 3 yrs in the Army during WWII, was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 1958 and served in many offices of the church. He worked as an enrollment director for Patricia Stevens, a girls finishing college, and has resided at 5930 N. 246th St. Valley, NE located in King Lake since 1958. Bob was a man of many skills, which included carpentry work, flower gardening, landlord, and an entrepreneur of small businesses. He enjoyed coin collecting and had a love of animals. Bob has two sons, Bob Cusick and wife Kathy, John Gieselman and wife Millie, both reside in Fremont, NE. He was married to Ernesta Riepl for 46 years until her death, and was also a father to five step-children, Ralph Riepl and wife Roxanne of Papillion, Tenya Christ and husband Gene, Philip Riepl with Mindy Armstong, Marta Rowe all of Valley NE and Elissa Ann Petersen with Ed Barnes of Waterloo, NE. His survivors also include his step-mother Eleanora Stork of Federal Way, Washington, two step-brothers Allan Stork and wife Jan of Federal Way, WA and Martin Stork of Seward, NE. Bob’s niece Shirley Fletcher of Valley NE, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Ernesta, his mother Dora, his father Rudolph, foster parents Bill and Anna, granddaughter Cynthia Gieselman and grandson Christopher Gieselman, and step-sister Ferra Hunter. Special thanks to Teri Amsden and all other care providers.

Robert F. Gieselman

September 13, 1918 - November 8, 2008