GIESELMAN, Howard H.

GIESELMAN, ENGLE, BREUER

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 9/28/2004 at 13:51:31

January 8, 2004 The Wapello Republican and The Morning Sun News-Herald accompanied by a photo.

Howard Gieselman

Howard Herman Gieselman, age 88, of Wapello (Iowa) died Thursday morning, January 1, 2004, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington (Iowa). The son of Herman H. and Lydia Engle Gieselman, he was born December 30, 1915, in Burlington (Iowa). He graduated from Burlington High School in 1934, and attended Iowa State University.

He married Dorothy Marie Breuer on November 4, 1939, in Burlington (Iowa). After the couple farmed in Des Moines County they moved to rural Morning Sun in 1955. He loved to farm and considered himself a steward of the soil as well as a steward in general.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Wapello (Iowa) where he had served as a trustee and was a Sunday School teacher for 70 years. He had also been a 4-H leader.

He was an early Pioneer Seed salesman in Iowa, a Soil Commissioner for both Des Moines County and later Louisa County and had remained an employee of the Farm Service Association for many years.

He served as a director for the Morning Sun Mutual Telephone Company and the Louisa Mutual Insurance Company and trustee of Marshall Township, was a member of the Louisa County Farm Bureau, the Louisa County Landfill Commission, a charter member of the Louisa County Board of Adjustments, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Wapello (Iowa).

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two sons, Harold and Kay Gieselman of Olwein (Iowa) and Wayne Gieselman of Morning Sun (Iowa); two daughters, Janet and Michael McChesney of Fairview, Texas and Ruth and Richard Hassett of Oakville (Iowa); 12 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-great grandchildren; a sister, Doris and Jim Benedict of Burlington (Iowa); and a brother, Warren and Lorraine Gieselman of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Dale.

The family met with friends Sunday at the Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home in Wapello.

The funeral service was held Monday at the United Methodist Church in Wapello, with the Rev. Harlan W. Winter officiating. Bev Parsons provided the organ music and a quartet of Nancy Pierce, Anita Odle, Merlin Schneider and Leroy Pierce sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Borning Cry.” The congregation sang “Victory in Jesus.” Heath H. Gieselman presented a Tribute of Memories. Pallbearers were Paul Gieselman, Drew Gieselman, Heath Gieselman, Collin Gerst, Joshua Gerst and Beth Belger. Honorary bearers were Renee’ Minton, Gwen Recker, Amy Gieselman, Audra Belger, Keely McChesney and Minda Gerst. Following the service a lunch was held at the church before burial in the Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery in Burlington (Iowa) with the Rev. Chris Thomas officiating.

A memorial fund was established for the benefit of the United Methodist Church in Wapello (Iowa) and the Great River Hospice of Burlington (Iowa).