Mildred Giesel
September 5, 1919 — March 29, 2009
Mildred Irene Giesel was born September 5, 1919 on a farm southeast of Seneca, the youngest of 5 children to Charles Bales and Lora (Moore) Bales. She started school at Old Lincoln Country School.
Her family later moved to her grandmother's farm. She attended Corning schools and graduated from Corning High School as salutatorian in 1936.
She then worked at the county treasurer office in Seneca for 7 years.
On September 8, 1943 Mildred married Jesse C. Giesel of Bern at the Seneca Congregational Church. To this union were born two children, Janie Evans and James Giesel. They established a home on his family farm where they lived all of their married life. Jesse passed away on April 16, 1988. Mildred continued to live on the farm until her death.
Besides being a homemaker, Mildred worked at the Graham Grain Elevator at Oneida for three years and then worked at the State Bank of Bern for 17 years, ten of which she was an Assistant Cashier. She retired in 1982.
Mildred was a member of the United Methodist Church of Bern and served as Memorial Chairman for 11 years. She enjoyed fellowship with Bridge and Pinochle friends, her home, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mildred died on March 29, 2009 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha at the age of 89. She is preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Golda Parnell, Eva Hayden and Margaret Elliott; a baby brother in infancy; her husband, Jesse C. Giesel and a granddaughter, Johna Suzanne Giesel. Mildred is survived by her two children, Janie Evans and her husband, Bob of Bern, Kansas and Jim Giesel and his wife, Terri of Riverton, Kansas; 5 grandchildren, Mike Aeschliman, Mark Aeschliman, Amy Hastings, Jamie Holliman and Josh Giesel; three step grandchildren, Angie Fowler, Shanna Bauer and Nicole Spindle and 9 great grandchildren and 1 step great grandchild.
Funeral service will be Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bern United Methodist Church. A family visitation will be Wednesday evening 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha. The interment will be in the Sabetha Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bern United Methodist Church, Sabetha Community Hospital, Nemaha County Home Health and Hospice or the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University sent in care of the funeral home.