Robert "Bob" Gehring

Robert "Bob" Gehring passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at his residence, surrounded by his family and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.  His memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton, ND.  There will be visitation one hour prior.  Jerry Trupka will officiate.

Robert Allen Gehring was born August 9, 1956, in Fergus Falls, MN, to Orville and Lois (Bentson) Gehring.  He was baptized in January 1957 at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cogswell, ND, and in June 1970, was confirmed in the same church.  Bob would later re-dedicate himself to the Lord, and, on July 23, 2011, was baptized at the River of Life Church in Breckenridge, MN.

Bob started school in Cogswell, ND, and graduated in 1974 from Sargent Central High School, in Forman, ND.  While in high school, Bob lettered in football and wrestling.

After high school, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard.  He took his boot camp training from June to August 1974 at the Alameda Training Center in California.  From September to December 1974, he was in the Machinery Technical School located at the Yorktown Training Center in Virginia.  In January of 1975, he was assigned to the Milwaukee Base Station and while there he was the Boat Station Engineer, involved in search and rescue, and was in charge of boat safety.  In December of the same year, he was transferred to the base station at Menasha, WI, where his duties included aids to navigation, boat safety, search and rescue, and station engineering officer.  He was discharged in June of 1978, with a national defense medal, sharpshooter rifle award, marksman pistol award, meritorious unit award, and the good conduct medal. 

The next year, he spent studying in the field of hydraulics and pneumatics at Alexandria Tech in MN.  He then spent time in construction, then went onto make cabinets at Kitchens Unlimited, which led to him opening his own carpentry business alongside his wife, Deborah.

On December 13, 1985, he married the love of his life, Deborah Trupka in Wahpeton, ND.  The couple made their home in rural Wahpeton, where they would raise their two sons, Kyle and Patrick. 

Bob was known to be a very giving and helpful man, who loved coffee.  You could always see him carrying his faithful coffee mug.  In his spare time, he loved hunting, fishing, time at the lake, remodeling the family home, being a master griller, and watching football games and stock car races.  He enjoyed all of these things even more when it was with family.

Bob was also very active in church functions, and with the Great Bend Fire Department.  He was on the fire department for 30 years, even serving as the fire chief during that time. 

Bob is survived by his wife, Deborah; sons, Kyle and Patrick; siblings, Richard Gehring, Ronald (Pamela) Gehring, Renee (Todd) Larson; nephew, Travis; and great-niece, Taylor.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Lois.

The family asks that everyone dress casual. Bob would have wanted it that way.