Robin “Rob” “Robbie” Lee Gass, ….

Robin “Rob” “Robbie” Lee Gass, 65, Chippewa Falls, passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital, in Eau Claire, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

Robbie, as he was affectionately called, was born in Chippewa County, Oct. 20, 1956.

He spent his childhood in Birch Creek, Holcombe and Cornell, graduating from Cornell High School.

At a young age, he worked in his dad’s lumber yard after school, with his two older brothers, Kelly and Kim.

Robin had a happy childhood. He enjoyed being in nature, whether it was camping, or hunting and fishing with his maternal grandfather, Chet DeMars.

He was a member of the Boy Scouts. He learned taxidermy, via a correspondence course, at an early age.

Robin was a “natural” musician, and played the piano “by ear” for friends and relatives. He also was quite artistically inclined, accumulating boxes of his drawings and stories. He also was handy at building, helping his father remodel several homes in Hot Springs, Ark., where he lived with his parents, many years, before they moved back to the Midwest, living with his parents in their last home in Bloomer.

In his late teens, Robin was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Though he was challenged by this devastating mental disease, because of the excellent mental healthcare provided by the state, he was able to live a happy, independent life, for several years. He was proud of having his own apartment at The Northern Apartments in Chippewa Falls, where he made many friends, with whom he shared coffee, conversations and gatherings in the lovely dining room.

Rob was also proud of his work and loved his “work family” at Chippewa River Industries (CRI), where he was treated respectfully and lovingly, by staff and co-workers. Family and friends in the area visited him, especially his cousins, Raina and Bob Pfundheller, who included Robbie in family gatherings, holiday celebrations and fun outings.

Though Robin lived a relatively simple life, he was not a simple man. He was a deep thinker, an attentive listener, a good conversationalist and a storyteller. He had a quick and keen sense of humor, and often was the first to start us all laughing. Above all, he had exceptional empathy, kindness and love for others, and especially loved his large, close extended family.

He is survived by his beloved brothers and their wives – Kelly and Linda, West Fork, Ark., and Kim and Sue, Portage, and their families, whom he also loved dearly, knowing all their names and individual personalities; six nieces; three nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews; leaving behind many loving cousins; his Dressel foster siblings; and his two beloved aunts – Clare DeMars, Chippewa Falls, and Joan DeMars, Eau Claire.

He was preceded in death by his parents, whom he adored – Melvin and Patricia Gass; niece – Ashleigh Gass; and nephew – Todd Roy.

The family would like to thank the amazing caregivers at Sacred Heart Hospital, especially the nurses and doctors on the sixth floor, who treated him with gentleness and dignity.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, at Thompson Funeral Home in Bloomer. Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at the Cornell Cemetery.

Thompson Funeral Home & Chippewa Valley Cremation Services in Bloomer, is serving the family.

Online condolences may be expressed at thompsonfuneralhome. com.