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Bob, the youngest of three children, was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Jonathan S. Kisling and Mildred (Herbaugh) Kisling. They moved to Hughson, California and Bob attended Hughson Elementary School where his mother was the cook. She died tragically in an automobile accident when he was 13 years old. His father remarried Helen V. Cunningham who had three sons. The family of eight lived in Denair, California where Bob played football, baseball and basketball at Denair High School and served as the student body president his senior year. After graduation in 1955, he served four years in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class at the San Diego Naval Base. In 1956, he reconnected with Rita Maxine Haile from Denair and they married in December of that year. They had three children, Stanley Kirt, Lori Kim and Karla Jene. Bob was an ambitious young man with mechanical aptitude and a mind for business. At 25 years of age, he purchased and operated a gas station in Denair for 10 years, then moved his family of five to Lindsay where he owned and operated Bob Kisling Tire Company and Auto Parts for 35 years. He was active in his community where he served multiple terms as the president of the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Club. He also helped organize the annual Orange Blossom Festival for 35 years, including 20 years as the CEO. He was named Lindsay’s Man of the Year in 1996. Bob retired in 2008 and that same year he and Maxine had the distinction of being the Honored Couple of the Orange Blossom Festival. They lived out their retirement years in Turlock, California enjoying the company of family and friends. Bob’s devotion to Jesus Christ was evidenced by his generous heart of service, his empathy for people in need and the joy he found in each new day. He and Maxine sang in the church choir and led the church high school group. Bob was a pilot and delighted in taking friends and family flying. He enjoyed working on classic cars and collecting antiques, which he and Maxine sold at antique shows on the weekends. He was a big-hearted, resilient man of integrity who loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was a loving husband and a caring, supportive father. He was a fun-loving Grandpa who always had a trick up his sleeve! His face lit up in the presence of his great grandchildren! He lived and loved at full throttle and will be deeply missed by all he lavishly loved and served. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, sister Joanne Zolnay and stepbrother Bobby Cunningham. He is survived by his wife Rita Maxine Kisling; three children, Stanley Kirt Kisling (Brenda), Lori Kim Eberts (John) and Karla Jene Bishop (Frank); seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Elaine McGee and step brothers Doug and Ron Cunningham. A celebration of life will be held at Covenant Living of Turlock, Berg Hall on Saturday, April 11 at 11:00am. Interment will be private at Denair Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Tributes

Robert (Bob) Elton Kisling

September 5, 1937 - February 18, 2026