Robert Joseph Gean

Robert “Bob” Joseph Gean, 84, of Moorcroft, Wyoming, passed away August 11, 2022, at the Campbell County Memorial Hospital. He fought a brave battle but was called home to be with his loved ones that left this Earth before him.

Robert was born on April 6, 1938, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Sophie (Kuckuka) Gean. He was welcomed by older sister, Roberta, and both were joined later by sister Nancy.

They grew up in a strict Polish Catholic family. His father immigrated to America when he was five years old from Austria and his mother was born in the United States shortly after her parents came from Poland.

He remembered going to early Sunday mass wearing a pressed suit and shirt, shined shoes and a tie. He couldn't understand a thing the priests were saying, because his parents never taught them the Polish language, they only spoke it amongst themselves or when playing cards or Polish marbles.

His first job was working on a garbage truck for $3 a day and his mother kept half of it for “his keep”. He learned woodworking in junior high and later in life he became a carpenter.

He quit his senior year of high school to join the Marines, where he served from 1953-1956 and immediately transferred to the Navy. He served in the USN and Reserves from 1956-1963 when he was Honorably Discharged. He got to travel the world in both branches, but he always considered himself a Marine.

While in service, he met and married Karen “Kay” Muhr and daughter, Leslie Kay was born to that union. They later divorced.

After his stint in the Navy, he met and married Tressa Hilborn and son Robert Lester was born. Later divorcing, he married Linda Renee Horn and their daughter, Jennifer Renee was born. After 20 years of marriage, they divorced.

Later in life he met Ann Kummerfeld. They married and he welcomed her four kids, Teri, Gary, Linda and Tammy to his family.

He would come to Wyoming to hunt and always loved it here. So when the opportunity came to move to Moorcroft, he and Linda made the move. He helped build the then-called Gillette Hospital and did carpentry work as a living.

Interested in law enforcement, he went back to school to get his GED. He then gained employment as a Moorcroft police officer.

After his sister died in 1990, he moved back to Pennsylvania to take care of his mother until her death in 1992. Upon returning to Wyoming, he started working for the Crook County Sheriff's Office and eventually became undersheriff to Ron Pulse. He then ran for sheriff, unsuccessfully.

He moved to Gillette and married Ann, he then started AM/PM Door, where he installed garage doors for residential and coal mines. After her death in 2010, he closed the business and starting transporting cars for White's Frontier Motors.

He enjoyed the travel, but he was never fond of motels. His theory was to take naps in the vehicle at truck stops and rest areas. He would drive to Pennsylvania and back over Memorial Day in five days to spruce up his family’s graves.

Robert enjoyed hunting and anything that involved guns. One of his earliest memories is his father teaching him to hunt and he enjoyed sharing that with younger generations.

He enjoyed shooting and collecting guns, as well as gun shows. He loved watching westerns and military movies and documentaries.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Ivan) Cranston of Moorcroft; son, Robert of Gilbert, Arizona; and daughter Leslie (Tony) Rodriguez of Phoenix, Arizona; granddaughters, Tia and Char Cranston of Moorcroft and Angelica (Bryan) Clay of Mobile, Alabama. He is also survived by stepchildren, Teri Kummerfeld of Sheridan Wyoming, Gary Kummerfeld of Billings, Montana, Linda (Daniel) Cote and Tammy (JayDee) Hacklin, both of Moorcroft; several nieces, cousins, a nephew and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ann; his parents; both of his sisters, Roberta and Nancy; a grandson, Seth Kilgore; and a granddaughter, Rebecca McGinty.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday August 19, 2022, at the Moorcroft Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Young Guns club, so area youth have the opportunity to learn about guns and be able to compete in local, statewide and national competitions. Young Guns c/o Kasi White, PO Box 451, Upton WY 82730.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com