GIESE, John G., age 57

Died: Monday, May 5th, 2014

Celebration of Life: 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Hickory Hills (Hwy 93 S in Eau Claire)
Family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until time of service

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Mayo Clinic (https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=308)
or the charity of the donors choosing

John Gerald Giese, 57, of rural Osseo died peacefully at home on Monday, May 5, 2014 surrounded by his loving family.

John, son of Gerald and Patricia (Burke) Giese, was born on November 17, 1956 in Eau Claire. He graduated from Regis High School and earned a Bachelor's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from UW-Stout. Later he completed his Master's in Guidance and Counseling, also from UW-Stout. On August 9, 1986, John married the love of his life, Ginger Long.

For 22 years John worked as a school counselor with the last 15 years in the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District. The majority of his work focused on teaching and shaping the lives of students at Lincoln Elementary. A highlight of his life was to be able to connect with so many children and affect their lives, but also to be enriched by them. John was blessed with many co-workers who shared his passion for making a difference in the lives of children.

John accepted each person he met for who they were, and recognized that every individual was valuable and had something to offer. He was able to relate to people of all ages and abilities and never lost his ability to play. John's great love of nature was evident in the amount of time he spent hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, golfing, camping or sitting quietly on a bluff top or next to a campfire. He played basketball and softball in many leagues through the years. John gave freely of his time to family and friends; helping out with projects, attending events for nieces and nephews and passing on his love of nature to others.

Recently while reflecting back on his life, John said that 'true friends are rare to find and I have been blessed with having many true friends; friends who have stood by me from childhood and throughout my life, especially through my journey with cancer.'

John is survived by his wife, Ginger; father, Gerald; siblings; Barbara (Richard) Barrickman, Janet (Fred) Negus, Ann Giese (Skip La Dousa), Dennis, Peter, Paul (Michele), and William (Lieske); nieces and nephews, Mike (Jessica) Barrickman, Katie (Troy) Taylor, Jessica, Claire and Jack Negus, Carolyn (Aaron) Dammen, Rachel Cleasby, Laura, Amanda, Nick, Grace, Lucas, Jonah, Eleanor and Simon Giese; great nieces and nephews ; Lauren and Connor Dammen, Devin and Andrew Barrickman, and Calvin Taylor; special God daughter, Alexandra Nelson Zirzow; many other relatives and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia.

We honored John's wish to donate his body to Mayo Health System-Rochester for scientific research.