Franklin Giesbrecht
May 18, 1933 — January 20, 2017
Franklin U. Giesbrecht
Stapleton, GA – Franklin U. Giesbrecht, 83, loving husband of 58 years to the late Darlene Grace Nikkel Giesbrecht, peacefully entered into his eternal rest Friday, January 20, 2017 at Bethel Home in Montezuma Kansas. Funeral services in Georgia will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at Pinecrest Mennonite Church with Ministers Randall Goossen, Brian Dyck, Josh Hodgins, James Seiler and Maynard Peters presiding. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Born in Walsh, Colorado to the late John and Ida Giesbrecht, he grew up 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 Minster David Koehn. He and his wife moved to Stapleton in 1956, purchasing a farm, starting a dairy and their family. He worked hard on the farm but took time to enjoy yearly trips to visit family in Kansas, as well as traveling to Yellowstone National Park, Redwoods, Pikes Peak and Grand Canyon. Franklin and his wife also enjoyed voluntary service as house parents and spending time in Dodge City Mission. After the passing of his beloved wife and his health decline, he moved to Bethel Home three years ago, living out his life in contentment and peace.
Franklin was also preceded in death by four sisters, three brothers, one grandson and one great grandson. Those left to cherish his memory are his five daughters, Cindy Nichols (Danver) of Arcadia FL, Connie Peters (Steve) of Stapleton, Cheryl Hibner (David) of Stapleton, Annette Miller (Kenneth) of Stapleton, and Kimberly Koehn (Bryan) of Monterey TN; three sisters, Lenora Ensz of Montezuma KS, Evelyn Unruh (Bob) of Montezuma KS, and MaryAnn Dirks (Calvin) of Detroit TX; eighteen grandchildren, thirty-two great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Memorial contributions are suggested to be made to Bethel Home, c/o Swaim Funeral Chapel, PO Box 421, Montezuma KS 67867.
The family will receive friends at Pinecrest Mennonite Church from 7:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2017.