Merle Giesking
July 4, 2006

Merle Gene Giesking was born August 3, 1935, at rural Titonka, Iowa, to Carl and Hilka (Pannkuk) Giesking. Merle graduated from Titonka High School in 1953, when he began farming and raising turkeys. He was united in marriage to Alice Meyer on June 7, 1958, at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Titonka. In 1970, he also became employed at Winnebago Industries in Forest City. He worked there from 1970 until retirement in 1997. Merle continued farming until 2001.
Merle was a 'master gardener', enjoyed fishing, collecting postcards and antiques. He also enjoyed traveling, sports, including being a NASCAR fan as well as an avid Hawkeye Fan. Most importantly, Merle was a kind and generous man, even tempered and always showed respect to others. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Merle was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he had served and was currently serving on the church council and was the Benevolence Treasurer. He had also worked on the Titonka Bicentennial Committee.
Merle died at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona on Tuesday, July 4, 2006, as a result of a tractor accident. He was 70 years old.
Survivors include his wife Alice of Titonka, son Bruce Giesking and wife Pam of Tampa, Florida, daughter Lori Cink and husband Tom of Wesley, Iowa, and son Scott Giesking and wife Priscilla of Wesley Chapel, Florida. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, sister Clara Mayland of Titonka, sister Vera Ostermann of Elmore, Minnesota, sister Leona Schmidt and husband Lowell of Mason City, Iowa and brother Carl "Butch" Giesking and wife Dorothy of Titonka along with sister-in-law Julia Giesking of Buffalo Center. Merle was preceded in death by his parents, brother Erwin "Shorty" and wife Phyllis Giesking, Lewis Giesking and brothers-in-law, Elmer Ostermann and Henry "Hank" Mayland.

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