Phillip F. Gehin

Phillip F. Gehin , 72 of Murrieta, California died unexpectedly of natural causes at home and entered into eternal life on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

Phillip was born on August 4, 1952 to the late Francis and JoAnne (Oligney) Gehin in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

He attended St. Stephen Elementary and graduated from Pacelli High School in 1970.

He received a bachelor's degree in education from UWSP and worked at the Stevens Point YMCA as a swimming instructor.  In the late 1970's he moved to Reno, Nevada and worked in the casino industry for a few years before becoming a teacher for the Washoe County School District. He retired in 2012 and moved to California shortly after.

Phillip was an alumnus of the former Camp Mikquano (now Glacier Hollow) on Lake Elaine in Nelsonville, Wisconsin where he started out as a young camper and worked his way up to a counselor and swim instructor.

He loved running and swimming. He would go on hour long runs and then swim for an hour. Near his boyhood home in Stevens Point, he would swim in the Wisconsin River where it would take him 20 minutes to swim downstream to his turnaround spot and then 40 minutes to swim back upstream.

When he lived next to Lake Elaine in Nelsonville he would swim to the south side of the lake and back several times without stopping. He also swam laps across Sunset Lake.

One time, while visiting cousins at their vacation cottage on Green Lake in Wisconsin, his uncle made an offer of $10 to anyone who would swim across a nearby weedy lagoon. Phillip was the one who dove in and swam the large distance across and back, later emerging from the water covered in muck and vegetation.

He loved to look at the moon and other space objects with his telescope and had all sorts of moon memorabilia. He also had an extensive knowledge of history and current events.

Phillip was preceded in death by his three brothers: Paul, Bruce, and Mark, as well as his niece Serenity Hamus (Gehin).

Survivors include: his significant other, Maryam of Murrieta; his Pomeranian dog named Pepe (who is lost without him), brothers David of Palm Springs, California; and Greg of Stevens Point.

He is also survived by nephew Shane Gehin, niece Lindsey Gehin and Sister-in-law Sandy Gehin all of Twin Falls, Idaho.

In the late 1990's Phillip met a Russian lady named Anna, who was living in St. Petersburg, Russia using a dating website. He traveled to see her a couple times before bringing her back to the US to get married. They remained friends even after divorcing in 2007.

Phillips' whole body gift to science through Science Care is a testament to his generous spirit. He was a friend and teacher to everyone he met.

A private service will be held by Phillip's family at a later date. The Pisarski Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family. For online condolences, please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com .