Here is a link to Bob's obituary, as it appeared today in the Bellingham Herald:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bellinghamherald/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-Keiper&pid=171825996
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Memorial Service Scheduled
A memorial service for Robert Keiper will be held on Saturday July 26, 2014, 1pm, at
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2117 Walnut St.
Bellingham WA.
If attending the reception after the memorial, please consider bringing a copy of your favorite Bob picture to share with others. This picture will then be given to Bob's Nebraska family. And if you would, write a little note or description on the back of the picture.
Another celebration of Bob will take place in late August or early September to give all you out of town folks a little more time to make travel plans.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
2117 Walnut St.
Bellingham WA.
If attending the reception after the memorial, please consider bringing a copy of your favorite Bob picture to share with others. This picture will then be given to Bob's Nebraska family. And if you would, write a little note or description on the back of the picture.
Another celebration of Bob will take place in late August or early September to give all you out of town folks a little more time to make travel plans.
Tentative Memorial Service Details
Hello all,
Tentative plans are that there will be a memorial service for Bob this Saturday, July 26th, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Not exactly sure of the time yet--sometime in the early afternoon is most likely. As soon as I know, you'll know...
Lauren
Tentative plans are that there will be a memorial service for Bob this Saturday, July 26th, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Not exactly sure of the time yet--sometime in the early afternoon is most likely. As soon as I know, you'll know...
Lauren
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Movie and Slideshow
I desperately wish that I could write something poignant, insightful, and/or witty, but I can't. However, what I CAN offer are these two links.
Here's a link to "Keiper, the Movie," the short film that Chris made for Bob's retirement party:
https://vimeo.com/100952270
Next, there's a slideshow that I put together using the photos I could find in my archives:
https://vimeo.com/101139939
I think both of them capture the spirit that was Bob--kind, funny, smart, and a little (well, a lot) irreverent.
Enjoy,
Lauren
Here's a link to "Keiper, the Movie," the short film that Chris made for Bob's retirement party:
https://vimeo.com/100952270
Next, there's a slideshow that I put together using the photos I could find in my archives:
https://vimeo.com/101139939
I think both of them capture the spirit that was Bob--kind, funny, smart, and a little (well, a lot) irreverent.
Enjoy,
Lauren
Friday, July 18, 2014
July 18th
Dear Ones,
Bob passed about 11:35 am this morning. Brian C and I were by his side. Bob went on peacefully and quickly. Bob loves all of you, loved life and believed in love.
Rest in Peace!
Tim
Thursday, July 17, 2014
July 17th Late
Hi All,
Apologies for being soooo late…had to sleep, eat, host and listen to more tales of Bob.
So Bob is on Day 2 and apparently heading for Day 3. What this means is that he is on a dladid/morphine IV drip to make him comfortable. All other medicine, antibiotics and nourishment was stopped about 7pm Tuesday July 15th.
Bob has been doing well…continues peaceful and comfortable….is chugging along, usually breathing nice and easy. Bob
is made as comfortable as possible…repositioned, cleaned and bathed,
keeping his mouth and lips moisturized, changing linen and etc. Bob continues to be self-determined….certainly beyond my expectations…but I know nothing…Bob is directing the show.
Today’s “show” has been more relaxed and slowed with visitors and calls…not as frantic as yesterday’s production. Which was a whirlwind…a good one though. Today was more of a “just hangin with the Bob.” Of course, the tales of Bob continued to be told. Part of Bob’s Canadian family came down to sit and have a scotch….bet ya didn’t know he was Canadian ehh. Former high school students find their way back to Bob…in person like Mark from Colorado who just arrived a bit after 7pm…he sat and had a much deserved scotch after Seattle’s infamous traffic. Another
former student calling in from Chicago and more folks are due from
Canada and others have made it to Seattle and driving up as I write.
So, the “show” for today is absolutely in creditable. Bob continues to bring people together. We here are meeting folks…really Bob’s family…his orphans, misfits and tagalongs that he has absconded during his life. We are the characters, that others may have heard of or have met briefly in passing or are only are now meeting. But
everyone meeting each other….either in person, email, phone calls,
skype, facebook or in the blog…its like meeting long lost or just
discovered brothers and sisters of Bob’s family. This continues to be a most amazing production “Bob Brings His Family Together”. Btw
there seems to be quite a few couples that Bob has help become
“related”…and he has married a few…that is he performed the marriage
ceremony…(Happy Anniversary to Brian P and Lynelle. He married these
two…9 years ago today).
We anxiously await what Bob has instore for us at the end of the SHOW…will it be comedy or tragedy or something else?
Tim
Cruise Highlights
Some folks have been asking about Bob's epic cruise he took in May - where did he get to visit before the injury? Here are some of the highlights provided by his friend and travelling companion, Scott:
Bob and I flew out of Seattle on Wednesday, May 21. Flew from Seattle to Amsterdam to board the Celebrity Constellation for a 12 night Scandanavia and Russia cruise. Bob was in good spirits. He was a little unsteady but with the use of his cane, getting around well. I was fortunate enough to have been asked to assist him on this cruise because we had travelled before to present at conferences and I had helped him with his dialysis and medical needs on those trips, so I know the drill, as it were. As his medical helper, Bob was able to get a good discounted rate for me to accompany him, and I was able to cover my airfare on my own. We were all set for a great trip!
We arrived in Amsterdam and transferred to the ship. The first day was “at sea”. On May 23 we were docked at Warnemünde, Germany….a port not too far from Berlin, where some passengers took a day trip to Berlin. Bob and I opted to stay in the port city and had a nice time walking around, seeing the sites, browsing in local shops and just recovering from the jet lag. It was a nice day. Bob bought a colorful kite for one of his adopted nieces as a souvenir. It is now in the hands of some Russian bastard, er, uh, I mean hopefully it is being enjoyed by a deserving Russian child since we had to leave it behind along with other belongings due to weight restrictions on the medical jet, coming home.
After another day at sea, we docked at Helsinki, Finland. A beautiful city. We joined the official tour group that day and saw sights. More great weather.
On Tuesday, May 27, we docked at St. Petersburg, Russia, where we were to spend two days sight-seeing. This was I believe, the anticipated highlight of the trip for Bob. He remarked that he had always wanted to see Russia, especially St. Petersburg, and he was of course well informed already of the history and knew exactly what he wanted to see. I was the naive eager student, always willing to benefit from his preparation and research. Some things never change.
We went with the official tour group that morning and toured the famous and impressive Hermitage museum….an enormous place that one can only sample. I believe it is nearly as large as, or perhaps larger than the Louvre. Anyway, it was daunting because there are hundreds of stairs to negotiate and it is very crowded. The Russians seem to be more interested in packing in paying tourists than controlling traffic patterns or keeping things orderly. We managed well, Bob, with the help of his cane and some assistance from me handled the challenges of the stairs while managing to snap photographs. He really was enjoying the time there..soaking it up, and it was great to see him enjoying himself and his surroundings.
As we left the Hermitage museum to return to the bus and go to lunch as a tour group, someone pushed the person next to Bob in our group…. a fellow cruise passenger who was heavy-set and blind-sided by the push. He said it was a “vendor” who pushed him. He fell into Bob knocking him down and the heavy-set gentleman fell as well…..partially on top of Bob. We hastily helped them up in what was a hectic, confused few minutes since we were literally in the middle of the street/crosswalk, and I could tell Bob was hurting. At that point, we did not know that he had broken his arm/shoulder…..just that he was in considerable pain. I suggested we get medical help, and Bob insisted that we eat lunch with the group first and then see how he felt. Tough, corn-fed Nebraska boys that he is….we ate lunch. During lunch I told the tour guide that we needed to get him back to the ship and checked out by the doctor. Bob agreed and the saga began. It was determined that he had a severe break that required surgery, and the rest is another long, difficult, tragic story which I will not attempt to chronicle here.
I hope this gives folks some idea of the time leading up to Bob’s injury.
Scott
Bob and I flew out of Seattle on Wednesday, May 21. Flew from Seattle to Amsterdam to board the Celebrity Constellation for a 12 night Scandanavia and Russia cruise. Bob was in good spirits. He was a little unsteady but with the use of his cane, getting around well. I was fortunate enough to have been asked to assist him on this cruise because we had travelled before to present at conferences and I had helped him with his dialysis and medical needs on those trips, so I know the drill, as it were. As his medical helper, Bob was able to get a good discounted rate for me to accompany him, and I was able to cover my airfare on my own. We were all set for a great trip!
We arrived in Amsterdam and transferred to the ship. The first day was “at sea”. On May 23 we were docked at Warnemünde, Germany….a port not too far from Berlin, where some passengers took a day trip to Berlin. Bob and I opted to stay in the port city and had a nice time walking around, seeing the sites, browsing in local shops and just recovering from the jet lag. It was a nice day. Bob bought a colorful kite for one of his adopted nieces as a souvenir. It is now in the hands of some Russian bastard, er, uh, I mean hopefully it is being enjoyed by a deserving Russian child since we had to leave it behind along with other belongings due to weight restrictions on the medical jet, coming home.
After another day at sea, we docked at Helsinki, Finland. A beautiful city. We joined the official tour group that day and saw sights. More great weather.
On Tuesday, May 27, we docked at St. Petersburg, Russia, where we were to spend two days sight-seeing. This was I believe, the anticipated highlight of the trip for Bob. He remarked that he had always wanted to see Russia, especially St. Petersburg, and he was of course well informed already of the history and knew exactly what he wanted to see. I was the naive eager student, always willing to benefit from his preparation and research. Some things never change.
We went with the official tour group that morning and toured the famous and impressive Hermitage museum….an enormous place that one can only sample. I believe it is nearly as large as, or perhaps larger than the Louvre. Anyway, it was daunting because there are hundreds of stairs to negotiate and it is very crowded. The Russians seem to be more interested in packing in paying tourists than controlling traffic patterns or keeping things orderly. We managed well, Bob, with the help of his cane and some assistance from me handled the challenges of the stairs while managing to snap photographs. He really was enjoying the time there..soaking it up, and it was great to see him enjoying himself and his surroundings.
As we left the Hermitage museum to return to the bus and go to lunch as a tour group, someone pushed the person next to Bob in our group…. a fellow cruise passenger who was heavy-set and blind-sided by the push. He said it was a “vendor” who pushed him. He fell into Bob knocking him down and the heavy-set gentleman fell as well…..partially on top of Bob. We hastily helped them up in what was a hectic, confused few minutes since we were literally in the middle of the street/crosswalk, and I could tell Bob was hurting. At that point, we did not know that he had broken his arm/shoulder…..just that he was in considerable pain. I suggested we get medical help, and Bob insisted that we eat lunch with the group first and then see how he felt. Tough, corn-fed Nebraska boys that he is….we ate lunch. During lunch I told the tour guide that we needed to get him back to the ship and checked out by the doctor. Bob agreed and the saga began. It was determined that he had a severe break that required surgery, and the rest is another long, difficult, tragic story which I will not attempt to chronicle here.
I hope this gives folks some idea of the time leading up to Bob’s injury.
Scott
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