Robert "Bob"
Lee Giese
MEMORIAL GATHERING & MASS
Monday, September 23, 2024
at
Old Saint Mary’s Church
844 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
GATHERING: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
MEMORIAL MASS: 3:30 PM
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Help Bob continue to support children in third world countries with a one-time gift.
Donate online by clicking on: Unbound
Robert “Bob” Lee Giese
Of Menomonee Falls. Entered Eternal Life on September 7, 2024. Bob had just celebrated his 83rd birthday. After battling cancer for 18 months, his struggles are over, and his healing is finally complete. Amid this battle, he always stated that he lived a very full and fulfilling life.
Bob is survived by his children, Christine (Scott) Eisner, Tim (Terri) Giese. Grandchildren Zachary (Kelsey) Eisner, Alyssa (Mitch) Woolever, Jacob (fiancé Lauren) Giese, Ben Giese, Leah Giese. Great grandchildren Kennedy & Shepherd Woolever, Cecilia & Baby (due February) Eisner. Brother Keith (Karen) Giese. Also survived by many more loving relatives and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arnold and Lucille Giese
Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 20, 1941 to Arnold and Lucille (Hegetschwieler) Giese. He graduated from West Division HS in 1960. He continued with his education at MSOE while also serving in the Army and the National Guard. Following college, Bob had a long and enjoyable career starting as a draftsman then became a Regional Manager for a water filtration product line with Rexnord/Envirex/US Filter. He additionally worked evenings for many years at Sears.
Bob was a man of many interests.In his younger years he enjoyed going to the Milwaukee Braves games with his father and later to Brewer games with his children and grandchildren. He loved the outdoors including camping, biking and hiking. In his later years, he enjoyed being a Docent for Historic Milwaukee for 30 years and giving tours of Forest Home Cemetery. Bob felt honored to give hundreds of tours and was always delighted to share his love of history by researching, finding and giving interesting information. He was always full of these fun historical facts!! He co-authored historical books and was a contributing writer for other journals/brochures. He also had a huge interest in traveling. He made it to 49 states and 42 countries. He lovingly put five children though school in the Philippines through UNBOUND, where he had met and visited these families on four occasions. He generously volunteered at St John’s cathedral at their Open Door Café for two decades and was a Eucharistic Minister at Froedtert Hospital for over a decade. He headed his men’s catholic retreats where many grew stronger in their faith. He was proud to have donated 438 pints of blood over the years until he could no longer. He enjoyed volunteering his time with the Marcus Performing Arts Center downtown Milwaukee. While Bob was on the Board of Directors for the Beer & Brewing Museum, he was known for his fun tours at the Forest Home Cemetery featuring the Beer Barons. For many years, Bob loved going to the Pfister after mass every Sunday for breakfast and adored the staff. Through all these ventures he met and befriended many people that became extended family to him.He treated everyone as an equal. Bob felt honored to be a father. His greatest joys above all else were his two children, five grandchildren and three (and a half!)great grandchildren. His faith was lived out by his heart for service, generously giving and the love for others less fortunate. His legacy will be carried on through many family and friends.
I am happy to have known Bob through the Forest Home Cemetery Docent group. He was so kind when I told him I wouldn’t be able to show for my Memorial Day presentation this year, because of a health issue in the family. He shared his cancer diagnosis with me in support. He will be missed. My condolences to his family and other friends.
Bob was a special person, who we greatly admired for his kindness, generosity and deep faith. He was gentle n his speech – always calm and sensible. He was extremely knowledgeable. In all things beer and Milwaukee. He had a great laugh. We cherish the memories.
Bob will be missed. He truly was a special person. When our children were young, we served on the St. Agnes Athletic Association committee together. Last year he gave my family a private guided Historic Milwaukee tour. He added many historical facts my famly never knew and was very kind. He will be missed. Unfortunately, I will not be able to make the funeral service.
So sorry for your loss…..although we did not know each other well we were cousins on my mothers side of the family (Evelyn Giese Bauer) I am sure he will be missed dearly..
A Talented and fun guy with whom it was great tradeing wits and info.
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Went on a few UNBOUND trips with Bob to the Philippines. He was always great with the children. They always seemed to pair us together and even confused us with each other because I guess we looked somewhat alike. R.I.P. Bob.
My family and I are so sorry for your loss. Like Mert, I was blessed to have traveled with Bob to the Philippines with Unbound. We shared many laughs together and also some very emotional moments when he was assigned to join my daughter Sage and I on a home visit with a child we had sponsored in Legazpi for many years. The visit touched Bob so deeply and that day bonded us from that day forward. He was so proud of his family and talked about them lovingly. He also spoke of his tours in Milwaukee with such love. Bob was a man of strong faith and had a great sense of humor. He will be missed by many and the trips to the Philippines won’t be the same without him. ❤️🩹🙏
Bob was president of his West Division High School Class of 1960. He lead fellow West grads through several reunion gatherings. He was a great leader and planner and we had wonderful planning sessions and reunions. He was kind. I never heard a disparaging word from him. He had a good sense of humor and I always enjoyed being in his company..
Bob will be missed by me, and many others who volunteered with him, took his tours, enjoyed a beer and baseball with him and marveled at all he did!
Got to know Bob over the last 20 years working as a guide at Forest Home Cemetery on Memorial Day as well as doing guided walks with Historic Milwaukee. Bob was a fun mentor who reveled at sharing his own love for Milwaukee and its history. As they say, “A gentleman and a scholar.” He will be missed by many.
Bob and I volunteered as docents at the Cathedral and we “worked together” this past July at Bastille Days. I could see that he was tired but he welcomed everyone and enjoyed interacting with whoever came through our doors. I felt that he knew how to enjoy life. He was a great resource for me and for so many,We will miss him
Bob was a true Renaissance Man.
It was always a pleasure to be around him and embrace his energy and interests. Bob and I shared many HMI Volunteer experiences.
We will miss his zest for life.
Commitment to everything he embraced was his gift to all.
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Members of the Museum of Beer and Brewing will sorely Bob’s gregarious personality and assistance in developing the Museum. Bob was always ready to lead projects and actively participate in the activities. Bob was an integral part of the Museum’s Old World Wisconsin Pioneer brewery start-up. We could always rely on Bob to guide us! Requiescat in pace Bob
What a fulfilling life. Very neat to see all the volunteer activities and generosity to Unbound. Rest in peace Bob.
Have known Bob for 30 years through Historic Milwaukee, his knowledge of Milwaukee history and beer were impressive. HIs dedication to these activities was indefatigable. His smile and joie de vivre will be missed!
I so enjoyed my time working with Bob at Sears Brookfield. We then became friends and attended many Brewers games together. We would often park blocks away from AmFam Field and Bob would narrate the history of the area as we walked to the game. He was a wonderful man and friend. My deepest sympathy to your family as you mourn his loss and also smile at al of the good and lasting memories you made with him.
Richard Tannis
My deepest sympathy to your family as you mourn his passing.
While I was Director of Outreach Ministry at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, I was blessed to have Bob as one of the long time volunteers at the Open Door Cafe meal ministry. Whether serving on the Advisory Board, the Human Concerns committee, serving meals, helping with planning and execution of the Annual Christmas Dinner and being a constant and welcome presence at many special events for the homeless neighbors near the Cathedral, he served with both love and compassion for his fellow man! Where there was a need of time, talent and resources, Bob was generous in sharing his gifts. Thank you for sharing Bob with the world! Rest in Eternal Peace my friend! You have earned your wings!
My husband David and I have very fond memories of Bob. Bob was always very welcoming and inviting to us. We are very blessed to have known him. May he rest in peace.
Bob was a standup great guy. He was a born leader, freely sharing his talents and expertise in diverse areas as far back as high school. A proud alum of West Division. Godspeed.
Mike Kirkwood WDHS ’60
Bob did original, historical research that he wrote into articles for Historic Milwaukee’s newsletter, Echo, while I was one of the editors, In one of them, he traced the starting point of the Milwaukee River. He also wrote about the historic markers in the city. Once, he arranged a special tour of the hidden places in Milwaukee’s federal building, and invited a couple dozen members of Historic Milwaukee, Inc.
Judy Wimmer, September 23, 2024
Truly saddened to learn of Bob’s passing. He was something of a mentor to me in my earliest years with Historic Milwaukee. He was such an important contributor to HMI. He shared with me on several occassions his travels and his work with UNBOUND. And also his work with St. Mary’s and the Cathedral. We are all the richer for knowing him.
I got to meet Bob through the Pfister and I can honestly say he was a joy to see and talk to. 8:15 every Sunday the corner booth we will miss him.