In a message dated 23/10/2008 10:07:54 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        Well, that hit me like a  ton of bricks this morning.  Sure makes you
understand how fragile life  really is.  I have known Bob ever since I have
been on this List which is  way back in the beginning.  I eventually bought one
of his motors for my  van which did end up haveing a small problem and
without hesitation it got set  straight.  I have been to his place a few time and
met his family.  My  condolences go out to them.  Bob we will miss you, here and
everywhere  !  May your next journey be good also !
        Now, to add to this story  of Lost Icons, yesterday morning I
received notice that my good friend and  customer Gerry Channer had succumbed to a
long, long battle with Leukemia.   He had been in the Ottawa hospital undergoing
a bone marrow transplant since  early June and it was not going well lately
so I was expecting this note any  day.  Funny it comes on the same day as Bob's
passing.  For those of  you who did not know Gerry, see he & Sharon's
travelblog here  >  _Profile for  Thymeoff - Canada_
(http://www.travelpod.com/members/thymeoff)  .  Gerry & Sharron who owned a very prosperous  herb farm near
Almonte, sold the farm, came to me looking for Westy to take on a  trip to South
America.  I found one for them in North Bay, ON, through the  Vanagon List,
an '87 with 15,000 km on the clock.  He went and looked,  bought it and
delivered it to me to prepare for the trip.  Off they went in  the middle of a
January snowstorm some 4 ~ 5 years ago.  They spent the  next three years driving
that bus all over hell's half acre, even driving  it off a cliff in the Andes
mountains and when I was in Santa  Cruz two years ago to deliver my CARAT to my
daughter April who moved there, we  met up with Gerry & Sharon on their way
back to Ottawa to get his Leukemia  looked after.  We spent a few days together
there while Van Cafe installed  some new tires and checked the brakes.  That
was the last time I saw  him.  When he got back to Ottawa I was too busy or he
was busy getting  ready to enter the hospital.  He kept in touch with me
constantly making  plans for me to service the bus so when his medical issues were
resolved he and  Sharon were shipping out to Africa with that bus !   Well,
now that  won't happen.  So, I will make my trip to Mexico this winter and each
and  every Cerveza and Tequila will be toasted to Bob and Gerry as we will all
 be joining them one fine day.  May they rest in peace both of  them.

>>>>>Re: We lost an icon last  night<<<<<<<<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008