Goodrich- When resident Bob Gann died Nov. 17 after falling from a treestand while hunting, his family watched as headlines and news reports seemed to define his life by his death.
‘Bob’s legacy needs to be remembered as a hunter who safely and accurately performed hunting, not a man who forgot to harness himself as the media has portrayed him’that was not the case,? says Nikki Davis, Gann’s daughter. ‘He was a skilled hunter who respected the sport and didn’t compromise safety when hunting.?
Gann’s son Dylan, 16, says his father always stressed safety while teaching him to hunt.
‘He taught me to always stay awake, wear a harness and when climbing up my ladder, always hold on tight,? says Dylan.
Additionally, Gann had Dylan obtain his hunter’s safety certificate from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
Gann ‘viewed hunting as a sport and perfected it just like any other task he performed,? says Nikki of the professional painter.
So when Gann failed to return home from hunting that Friday evening, his wife, Debra, says a situation like the one that had unfolded in the woods that night was the furthest thing from her mind.
According to police reports, it appeared Gann had fallen from a treestand approximately 30 feet in the air, and authorities never found a safety harness.
‘I never worried about him’that never crossed my mind,? says Debra. ‘I thought my husband was invincible.?
Debra describes her husband’s love of hunting as a passion she tolerated but did not share. She did, however, recognize it as a way Gann could demonstrate the love he had for his family by providing for them.
‘He was teaching Dylan on how to provide for his family through hunting,? says Nikki. ‘Not just kill, but compassionately take. Bob didn’t take a six pack (of beer) into the woods and rabidly shoot at anything that moved. He viewed hunting as a way to provide for his family and express his caring.?
Gann’s granddaughter, Justice, 12, remembers her grandfather as the kind of guy who wanted so badly to hold onto joyous moments that he recorded every event.
‘He had to videotape everyone when they opened their Christmas presents,? says Justice.
As the holiday season rolls back around, Gann’s family say they deeply feel his absence.
‘It’s not just making it through this holiday,? says Nikki, ‘it’s making it through all the holidays to come.?
‘We’re taking it one day at a time,? says Debra.
And though Gann died nearly a month ago, his family says his life still echoes around them daily.
‘He believed in karma, and all the good he did came back to us now,? says Debra.
‘The community support has been amazing,? agrees Nikki.
And though she says she has to remind herself daily that Gann won’t be coming home, Debra thinks he did stop by at least once since his death.
The family lives in an area of Goodrich that sees only the occasional deer, says Debra. But one day, as she and her friends and family were gathered near a window, a herd of deer dashed through the back yard.
Debra smiles as she remembers the moment and the thought the image brought almost immediately to mind.
‘Still hunting, Bob.?