Esther Gieseke

Esther Hattie Gieseke passed away Monday, January 13th, 2014 at St. John Lutheran Home at the age of 99. Esther (Schenk) Gieseke was born to Edward and Emma (Kettner) Schenk in rural Springfield, MN., North Star Township, on November 18, 1914 the oldest of five children. She attended Zion Lutheran Church and was confirmed 1929. Esther met her soul-mate Ben Gieseke in 1931 and they married on June 21 1939. They made their home in Springfield, MN for their entire life, with the exception of a brief time when Ben was stationed in Texas. Esther joined him in 1943, where she cared for pre-school children and later opened a small restaurant in Port O'Conner, TX. Not long after returning home in 1945 to Springfield, Esther gave birth to their son Jim. Then, in 1946 their second son, only a few days old, was called home to God and their third son Don was born in 1952. In 1966 after her children were in school, Esther went back to work as a Practical Nurse and later started a new venture owning her own Bakery Business operating out of their family home. Her specialty was Cake Donuts serving many of the local area businesses. She also served as a Sunday School Teacher, Cub-Scout Den Mother, Member of the Women's Legion Auxiliary, and in the Rebecca Circle. In her later years Esther and Ben made their winter home in McAllen, Texas where Esther faithfully served at the RioGrande Cancer Treatment Center as an active member of the Chaplaincy Program. In the summer of 1983, they served as Volunteer Campground Hosts in two Minnesota State Parks (Lac Qui Parle and Sibley) where they greeted campers and offered many park services. The following summer, 1984, Esther and Ben took on a new challenge as volunteers when they became The Official Resident Grandparents where they vowed to Love, Listen, Care and Understand for youth campers at Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, MN. In 1985, they were awarded the prestigious Brown County Senior Citizens Award. Where Esther commented, Volunteer activities during retirement has been good for us and has added Zest to our Life. In 2004, Esther and Ben made their home at the St. John's Lutheran Home. Esther had a quiet, tender way of connecting and consoling families who were with loved ones in the Autumn Room. She so tenderly cared and supported those around her with the same kindness she received from her family of caregivers at St. Johns. Esther is survived by her sons Jim (Sandy) Gieseke of Lake Hubert and Don (Linda) Gieseke Mankato, Grandchildren Melissa (Ryan) Kuehl of Mankato, Julie (Tom) Fassbender of Winona, Michael Gieseke and friend Courtney Rud of Detroit Lakes, Sheldon (Amy) Brandt of St. Peter, Shannon Brandt and friend Kathy Sauke of Forest City, IA., Christopher Bloudin, of Minneapolis, Jennifer Roberge, Prairie du Sac, WI., Derek Pfeil, Baraboo, WI. Great-grandchildren Sequoia and Parker Fassbender of Winona, Joe Martin, Claire Roberge, and Hayden Nall of WI., Great Great-granddaughters Madalynn and Mia Pfeil of WI., Great grand-dogs Scooter and Dessa. Also surviving Esther is a sister, Delores (Robert) Sater of St. Louis Park, many loving nieces and nephews. Esther was preceded in death by her husband Ben in 2004, an infant son, her parents, one sister and two brothers. Visitation 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday, February 1, 2014 Chapel of the Good Shepherd, St. John Lutheran Home 201 S. County Road 5 Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087 Service Information 2:00 pm Saturday, February 1, 2014 Chapel of the Good Shepherd, St. John Lutheran Home 201 S. County Road 5 Springfield, Minnesota, United States 56087