SPEARVILLE, KANSAS - We are celebrating the life of Edith Mae Giessel, (97), daughter of Joe and Clara Knoeber, who grew up in Spearville and attended elementary school.   She then went to St Mary of the Plains Academy High School in Dodge City, Kansas, where she met Alfred Giessel at one of the dances.  She was smitten and they continued their relationship by writing many letters while Alfred was stationed in England in WWII.  During that time, she worked at the Knoeber family Mercantile Grocery store.  She enjoyed filling customer orders from behind the counter, while they visited.

Edith Mae and Alfred were married in March of 1948, after his return to the US and they began their farming career.  Along with cooking 3 meals a day, and running a household, one of her traditions at harvest was to bring homemade malts to the wheat field promptly at 4pm.

She also loved volunteering!  She was a former Regent of D of I, member of the Happy Knot Tiers, a Lector and Eucharist Minister who faithfully took communion to the sick and homebound.  For many years she organized and helped cook for events at the Parish Center.  She was also a skilled accompanist.  In her early 20's, Edith Mae and Elizabeth Petz donated the stained glass window in the choir loft.

She devoted her life to being a loving wife and mother of 11: Rosemary Perkins, Denver; Trina Giessel, Ft. Collins; Sam Giessel (Katie), Valley Center; Jeanne Huslig (Keith), Kinsley; Bruce Giessel (Brenda), Dodge City; Trudy Hobbs (Pat), Dodge City; Geralyn Chronister (Eric), Hutchinson; Paul Giessel, Spearville; John Giessel, Spearville; and George Giessel (Joy), Minneola.

A great joy in her life was being a grandmother of 25 and a great grandmother of 34.  The grandchildren loved visiting, spending the night, singing when she played the piano and being spoiled.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred, a son, Walt, a grandson, Jarrod, her brother, Fr Joe Knoeber and her parents.

Vigil service followed by Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 pm both at St. John Catholic Church on Sunday, August 22, 2021.  Funeral Mass will be held at the church on Monday, August 23, 2021 at 10:00 am with Fr. John Forkuoh presiding.  Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Spearville. Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 3:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Prairie in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14 ^th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.