Franklin U. Giesbrecht

Our beloved Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather, Franklin U. Giesbrecht, was born May 18, 1933, at Walsh, Colorado, to John and Ida Giesbrecht. He peacefully left this life on January 20, 2017, at Bethel Home in Montezuma, Kansas. He reached the age of 83 years.

Dad grew to manhood and received his education in the Gray County, Kansas area. At the age of 13 he responded to the call of his Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister David Koehn on February 3, 1946. Though life was not without its tests, Dad remained faithful to the end.

On November 22, 1953, Dad was united in marriage to our mother, Darlene Grace Nikkel at Inman, Kansas. Together they shared life’s joys and sorrows for almost 58 years. Shortly after marriage, they served two years in a 1-W Service Unit in Baltimore, Maryland.

In January of 1956, they moved to Stapleton, Georgia, where they purchased a farm and started a dairy. God blessed them with five daughters during this time. We girls have many pleasant memories of working on the farm together. We took yearly trips to visit family in Kansas and many other trips including Yellowstone National Park, Redwoods, Pikes Peak, and Grand Canyon.

Dad and Mom greatly enjoyed their voluntary service as houseparents and made many lifelong friends. They also spent time in Dodge City Mission. Dad and Mom both loved people and were very hospitable.

After Mom’s passing, Dad had many challenges with his health, including losing his ability to hear and walk. In these challenges God saw him through as he leaned on Him for courage. He moved to Bethel Home approximately three years ago and enjoyed his time there. We as a family really appreciate the loving care he received there.

Those left to cherish his memory are his five daughters: Cindy and husband, Danver Nichols, Arcadia, Florida; Connie and husband, Steve Peters; Cheryl and husband, David Hibner; Annette and husband, Kenneth Miller, all of Stapleton, Georgia; Kimberly and husband, Bryan Koehn, Monterey, Tennessee. There are eighteen grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lenora Ensz, Montezuma, Kansas; Evelyn, Mrs. Bob Unruh, Montezuma, Kansas; MaryAnn, Mrs. Calvin Dirks, Detroit, Texas; one brother-in-law, Wilbur Boeckner, Hesston, Kansas; and two sisters-in-law, Verda Giesbrecht and Opal Giesbrecht of Montezuma, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents, four sisters, one step sister, three brothers, one grandson, and one great grandson.

Funeral service will be held at Pinecrest Mennonite Church, Stapleton, Georgia on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Randall Goossen, Brian Dyck, Josh Hodgins, James Seiler, and Maynard Peters presiding. Burial will follow at the Pinecrest Mennonite Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel – PO Box 421 – Montezuma, Kansas 67867 Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.