We Remember

GISSING, Michael

Passed away on Friday, June 12, 2015 at the age of 74 years. Survived by his loving wife Maria, sons; Shaun (Ruth), David (Pam) and Ryan (Marta) Ford, grandchildren: Maigan (Nate), Stephanie, Kayla, Vanessa, Jason, Maclean, Jenna and great grandson Daunte, brother Derek (Sheila) of England.
Mike was born in England and served in the British Royal Navy. He emigrated to Canada with his young family in 1975. Mike went on to have a highly successful business career in the systems control industry making many valued friendships. Mike’s passions beyond his family included motorcycling, art, afternoons spent at the dog park with his buddy Oliver and wining and dining with friends.

Family would like to thank the staff at the Kelowna General Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Springfield Funeral Home Family Centre, 2020 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cancer Center for the Southern Interior, www.bccancerfoundation.com. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”

Service
Thursday June 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm

Location
Springfield Funeral Home Family Center

Share with Others:

Share on Facebook
Share Via Email

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Center of the Southern Interior
Memorial donations may be made to the Cancer Center of the Southern Interior Link: www.bccancerfoundation.com

 


Service Information

Service Details


The service for GISSING, Michael is scheduled for Thursday June 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

Springfield Funeral Home Family Center

2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC

Phone:


Special Requests:

None.


Funeral Pointers:

 


Condolences

  • Michael & Kerry Burr says:

    We are so sorry to hear of Michael’s passing. His humour, wit and down to earth common sense advice was always appreciated and well considered. Memories of Michael will always be accompanied with a smile. Our thoughts are with you Maria. Michael & Kerry xx

  • Kim Krueger says:

    My thoughts and prayers are with you Maria and family. Mike was a very special man. I am so proud to be able to call him a Boss, a Mentor and most of all a Friend.

    Kim

  • Linda Avery says:

    Mike Gissing was a real pleasure to work with, he had a real talent for story telling, always with a good drink in hand, along with good friends and co-workers by his side. He will be missed, my condolence to the Gissing family.

  • Jim Manley says:

    My sincere condolences. Worked with Mike at Westronic and Harris from 1985 to his moving on in the mid 90’s. His sense of humor, zest for life and positive attitude will be missed by all.

  • Grant and Carol Meadows says:

    Mike was a one-of-a-kind great guy. A good friend, and mentor, and certainly the life of any party. Carol and I will miss him dearly, and we wish Maria, Shawn, David and their respective families our heartfelt sympathy on this sad occasion.

  • Ben & Sue Lyle says:

    Maria, Sue and are deeply saddened by Michaels Passing. He will always be in our hearts. You can take comfort in knowing he is in a much better place and resting peacefully. Our thoughts are with you.

  • Rick Kunz says:

    My condolences to you and your family for the loss of Michael.
    May he rest in peace.
    Rick

  • Theresa Black says:

    I am so very sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. I knew Mike when I worked with him many years ago at Westronic in Calgary. He was one of the good ones.

  • Bev Moore says:

    The world has lost a wise, witty, funny, generous soul. He was not only an “english man” but a gentle man. I was fortunate to have Michael for a friend.

  • Anthony Eshpeter says:

    Mike became an unexpected friend and mentor. He will surely be missed.

  • Steve & Brenda Kuper says:

    Maria, our thoughts and prayers are with you and family. Michael touched so many lives, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. So long old friend.

  • Tex Gamvrelis says:

    Maria, we have never met but I know of you through Mike. You have my sincerest condolences in this time of grief.

    I met Mike in June 1990 when I started at Westronic. Being 24 years his junior, when he did look at me, he did so with a sense of curiosity and suspicion :-). I returned the sentiment :-)).

    I have recollections of many memorable times with Mike and I will tell you about two of them. The very first time I spent private moments with Mike was on a trip to PG&E in San Francisco. Mike didn’t like my pants or my shoes so he took me shopping – to Nordstrom. There we spent hours studying shoes and other apparel. When I walked out, I had the nicest shoes and pants EVER! My poor wallet was a lot lighter too.

    Mike taught me how to entertain. On a trip to Georgia, Mike hosted us and a prospect at a fine dining establishment called The Plantation. I distinctly remember multiple $400 bottles of wine :-). We all had a terrific time mostly being entertained by Mike’s stories and laughing contagiously. I think we might have actually had something to eat too :-).

    Mike showed me how to humbly engage a customer and really listen to understand the barriers to a sale. Although we were never what I would describe as close, I always respected Mike. As I matured, I know Mike developed a certain respect for me. A few times, Mike stood up for me when it was inappropriate for me to do so.

    I last spoke with Mike about 5 years ago. He looked at me different. Not curiously and with suspicion but as a colleague. I distinctly remember this. I thought of him often and will never forget him. Maria, it will be some time before I get over my grief.

    -Tex

  • Carol & Pierre Poirier says:

    We are sorry for your loss. May the memories of Michael help you find peace.

  • Petra says:

    My sincerest condolences to Maria and family. I will definitely miss all the stories; but will retain the memories. May he rest in peace.

  • Sam Sciacca says:

    Greatly saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. The stories he told, and stories he created, are some of my fondest memories.

    Keep on riding Mike………it’s a road we all eventually take, and when we do, you’ll be waiting for us with a beer and yet another story.

  • Phil Siddorn says:

    My condolences to you, Maria and your family for your loss. The 6 years or so that I worked with Mike were some of the most interesting and enjoyable of my life. He was great company and had a huge appetite for life.

  • Stephen Farrington says:

    I worked with Mike for several years as part of Harris team starting in the mid 80’s. Great guy with a positive attitude and sense of humor that will surely be missed.
    JoAnne and I prayers are with the family and saddened by his passing.

  • Pierre and Feray Berger says:

    Word’s cannot express the sadness we feel for you dealing with the death of Mike. Our thoughts are with you Maria and all the family. He was such a gentleman and a great friend.

  • Pierre & Feray Berger says:

    Hearing about your loss has deeply saddened us, but we know that this is far from what you are going through right now. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you Maria and all the family.

  • Dave Jardine says:

    Maria and family,
    Joyce and I were sorry to hear of the passing of Mike. I hired Mike into Westronic. There he stood in front of me with his strong British accent ,tie and all, cowboy boots and large belt buckle that weighed almost as much as he did. It was a no brainer and he made me proud. He took on the toughest customers and won their respect and business. He did amazing things for the company and brought lots of spirit to the team . At Mike’s request Joyce brought you in to Shellstar and you went on to be a great success too. We lost touch along the way but did not lose the good memories. Let’s all remember Mike and smile as that is the way he would have wanted it for sure. Bless you all.

  • John and Russ says:

    Maria, Shaun, Ruth and family,
    So sorry to hear of the passing of Michael. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

  • Darren and Andrea Carter says:

    The world has lost such an amazing person and we are so sad to hear about Mike’s passing. We will miss his humour, wit, and kindness. Thinking of you and your family, Maria, at this time. Lots of love. Darren and Andrea

  • Daryl Cowie says:

    I have been thinking a lot about Mike over the last day and reflecting on all the fun we had, his open and sometimes maniacal ways, and on how much he taught me over the years. My world is certainly a better place for having him in it.

    So here’s to Mike and the wild adventure he always created from life.

    Rest well my friend.

  • Susan Pilon says:

    My sincere condolences to you and your family Maria. My thoughts are with you.

  • Dereki Gissing says:

    I will miss Mike for lots of reasons. the most important was when i went out and forgot to get home by curfew, Mike would come out and find me and get me in through the bedroom window so I didn’t get my backside kicked, this was when I was 5 or 6 years old, WHO’S going to watch my backside now. I can also remember when you were going back to Portsmouth after a weekends leave from the Navy, and you were late so you were going a little too fast, skidded off your bike and the bike was wrapped around a lamp-post, you had lost a fair bit of skin from somewhere on your body that stopped you sitting down for a few days. Mum and Dad drove you through the night and got you back to report for duty with about 30 seconds to spare. I could go on and on about my memories of you but I can’t repeat a lot of them in public. Even though you were several thousand miles away from me for the last forty years, I will miss you more than you realise. Sorry I couldn’t get to say goodbye in person but when everybody else does on Thursday, I will be round Hatherley Churchyard with Mum and Dad, and get them to welcome you home. We might be sad, but they will be pleased to see you again. Bye for now O.B. from B.B.

  • Cathy and Ray Foot says:

    Maria and Family:
    We were so sorry to hear of Michael’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you,
    Cathy and Ray and family

  • Ellen Churchill says:

    Little did I know, in the Fall of 2009, that the clients driving about in my car, would later turn out to be such great friends and neighbours! Michael taught me so much…he encouraged me to read, he inspired me with his crazy escapades, he indulged both Karla and I in deep discussion, he accepted us unconditionally, and we shared the immense love of that remarkable cook in our presence, Maria. On invitation day, we would starve ourselves in preparation of the magnificent feast we would share that night…Michael loved her & her cooking and how she kept him “in line”. Karla & I will miss him and his love for you, Maria. We are here for you when you need us. Love to David, Shaun, Ryan & the extended family, Ellen Churchill & Karla Ingbritson

  • Victor & Joanna Curtis says:

    Some people you come across in life are very special and have a lasting impact on oneself, Mike certainly had that he was my special one!

    I first meet Mike for an job interview in May 1993 in Winnersh, Bucks, UK, I learnt so many things from him both from a business and personal point of view I am so indebted to him for giving me the chance and then bringing Joanna and I to Canada and becoming very good friends, there simply are not enough adjectives to describe him as a man, businessman and friend.

    The number of things I learned from Mike are to exhaustive to list but one comes to mind in that when I called a customer out for being wrong and showing them they were wrong and then repeating it “you are wrong”, he reminded me that I was right but what is the point of being right if you don’t have any customers left, I use this as part of my own repertoire today and smile and think of Mike every time I use it.

    The funny moments we had again are too many to list but I certainly remember company Christmas party 1993 in a Chinese Restaurant with a dance floor and disco in Windsor UK and having a whale of a time, I remember that I maneuvered a certain Peter Macro to wear a children’s firemen’s helmet on a business trip he was going with Mike the very next day to Warsaw Poland to raise money for charity, well I can still see Mike’s face now!

    The last time Joanna and I spent time with Mike and Maria was the fall of 2010 on a trip to Kelowna where we spent a few quality days visiting wineries, eating wonderful food and having fun and so on before we moved out east to Ontario, I just wished there had been more such times and for that I feel very guilty as now it is too late, however, our memory of him will live on forever.

    Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you Maria he was certainly the special one and will be dearly missed by all.

    Victor & Joanna Curtis

  • Gary Moore says:

    My condolences to Maria, Sean and David. Mike was a true friend and a wonderful mentor as I started my business career. We had some great travels together both for business and for pleasure and I was lick to be one of the boys on the Sturgess bike trip together with David and Sean, the details of which will be forever not be disclosed! Mike leaves us with many fond memories that we will always cherish and will continue to motivate us to always pursue our dreams.

  • Connie Millar says:

    I put the phone down from Michael only 10 days ago. I was laughing, He always made me laugh, his wicked British sense of humour, his feisty personality and his great advice. He always had great advice!
    Maria, you had a lovely man, and he was lucky to have you to complete him. He will be very much missed by all.

  • Maurine treacy says:

    Mike and Maria moved into casa palmero the same day we did. What fun we have had since that time. We will miss mike and his humour. I was so impressed with how learned he was. His book collection is impressive and he seemed to remember every book and fact that he read. What an amazing mind. We will miss you mike. I look forward to meeting you again and having many more laughs.

  • Warren & Bev Hood says:

    Maria our deepest sympathies are with you and your family during this most difficult time. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

  • Paul and Cheryl Wedel says:

    We were deeply saddened to hear of Michael’s passing. We truly enjoyed the times we got together with the “old Legacy group”. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Maria and your family.

    Paul & Cheryl Wedel

  • Dan Gabriele Barker says:

    Out heartfelt condolences to the family. Micheal’s wonderful sense of English humour will be sadly missed. Taken too early on earth but now has his star in heaven.

Leave a Condolence Message for the Family


» To share your condolence on this page please fill out the requested fields.
» If you have a photo to share, please do so as families appreciate it. To share a photo (please note, just one photo per condolence please), click the 'Choose File' button and select a photo from your computer.
» Once you are done, click the 'Share' button.
» Your email is never published or shared. Your name and email are both required.

NOTE: all messages will go through an administrative process before being posted.