In Memory

Steven R. Giesen

Steven R. Giesen

Giesen, Steven R. 

b. 04/05/1954

d. 08/15/2013

Giesen, Steven R. Passed away (Thu) August 15, 2013, age 59, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Survived by his parents Richard and Lorraine (nee Emmerich) Giesen. Good friend to his brother Lawrence (Denise) Giesen. Teased his sisters Tammi (Andrew Oliver) and Nancy and his niece Allyson Giesen. Tormented his nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends with truly awful puns, but also charmed with an irreverent sense of humor, generosity and fierce loyalty.

The family is extremely grateful to Steve's employer, Vulcan Global Manufacturing Solutions, for the extraordinary compassion and assistance provided to Steve during this last difficult year. We know that he enjoyed the work and his colleagues, and that going into work was the thing that helped him get up many days. Steve was loved and will be missed by many animals, especially birds, and he devoted much of his free time to them.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of his favorite causes: the Center for Avian Rehabilitation and Education, Inc. (CARE) www.centerforavianrehab.org.

A Memorial visitation will be held Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 9:30AM until the Mass at 11AM at St. Catherine Church, 5101 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI  53210, (414) 445-5115

map and directions:  http://www.stcatherine51.org/Main/ContactUs

Jelacic Funeral Home, 5639 West Hampton Ave, Milwaukee, WI  53218, (414) 466-2134 Family owned and operated since 1946

--The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wed August 21, 2013--

 

(Giesen, b. 04/05/1954) 

(pancreatic cancer)



 
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08/18/13 03:45 PM #1    

Melodee L. Bast

J have many fond and wonderful memories of Steve as we were in the band at CUSTER.  He played trumpet and I played flute.  The  many concerts, plays and good times we shared in.  We also were in THE MILWAUKEE CONTINENTAL YOUTH BAND and went to many cities in the midwest for parades and competitions.  Oh the fun we all had on those bus rides!!!!  His dad drove the band bus.  He always was funny and sweet and a real prankster. You are at peace now my friend.

Melodee Bast


11/11/13 08:59 PM #2    

Denise K. Becker (Reese)

Steve and I met because we were in the same homeroom together.  We were also in plays together-he backstage and me usually on stage.  It was easy to be friends with him.  He had a great sense of humor, and he was also a prankster, just as Melody mentioned.  You had to keep on your toes around him.  He and Bob Kane had me believing for years that they were half-brothers.  To think of them both gone before age 60 is very hard, but yet, they did so much together that it somehow seems like we should have known this might happen.

Some of you might know that they were also burned together in a camping accident while we were in our senior year.  I went to visit them at the hospital, and I talked to Bob for about 20 minutes before I realized that it was Steve in the other bed.   I didn't tell Steve until many years later that I did not know it was him-until he woke up and spoke to me.   I had just pretended that I knew it all along.  I was so happy that they both recovered so well, especially considering the shenanigans that went on even when they were in the burn center.

If you read my memories about Bob Kane, you will know that Bob and I worked together to help kids with burn injuries mostly in the 90's.  When I reconnected with Bob in the 90's and asked him about Steve, he told me they had lost touch.  I said, "How could you lose touch with him?  He's your half-brother!"  The look on Bob's face when I said that was when I first realized they got me good on that one.

After Bob passed away, I realized that I had to make sure that Steve knew about Bob.  I found him, and we stayed in touch until about two weeks before he passed away, when he became too ill to contact anyone.  He had almost exactly a year from his diagnosis to his death.  Before he got sick,he helped with fund raising for the burn survivor charity that I work with.  He was very generous with his time, especially since he was taking care of so many birds.  He had one that he called his girlfriend.  Apparently, Steve was the only one who could feed her.  She would bite everyone else.  When he got sick, he really worried about her, and would often drag himself up from his sickbed to go to the rescue center to feed her.  At his funeral, I found out that when Steve would walk into Animal Crackers, the bird section would go crazy!  They all wanted attention from Steve! 

Steve endured a great deal of pain and suffering at the end because he was thinking about how his loved ones would feel if he gave up.  He knew he wasn't going to make it, and he was so brave in all of the things that he tried to do for the sake of everyone else.  I will never forget how courageous he was.  He often wouldn't even tell me a thing when I asked him how he was feeling.  He would just dodge the question.  He never wanted anyone else to hurt because of him. 

I miss Steve dearly, but I am glad that he is now at peace. 

Oh, and speaking of pranks--the day of his funeral was a very hot and humid day.  I was dressed in black pants and black blouse.  Steve probably wouldn't have liked that--too morbid.  We sat for a long time hearing the wonderful things that Steve had done in his life--from his family and even his boss.  When it was time to stand up for the end of the ceremony, my clothes had somehow glued themselves to the church pew.  As I got up, you could hear this horrible-awful- slow ripping noise (although no real rips) as my clothes gradually became "unstuck" from the church pew.  Humidity, or final prank?  You be the judge.  I just know it made me leave with a smile on my face, and that's how Steve would have wanted it.  When you think of him, I hope you smile.  He would like that. 

 

 

 

 

 


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