Rev.
Richard Arthur,“Dick”,Giessler, 85, of Floyd,Virginia entered eternal life on
February 28,2022, held by his wife, and his daughter in her Floyd home.
Dick
was born April 22,1936 in Akron Ohio to Frank Abraham Giessler and Dorothy Angelica
(Hunsicker) Giessler. He was raised in Paulding, OH and Van Wert, OH.
Dick
was a kind and compassionate humanitarian. He promoted peace and unity. He was
someone who actively advocated and worked for human rights for all people. He
stood up and spoke out for social, racial and environmental justice, and in a
quiet, gentle way, built bridges amongst people.
Much
of his social awareness was developed while the family lived in Paulding, OH
where he attended is first 5 grades in a two room school house and had close
friendships with the Mexican American and African Americans from their end of
town.
He
graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH and Hamma Divinity Seminary.
He was ordained in 1963. After being a student pastor for a year at Holy
Trinity in Bethlehem, PA, Dick served congregations in Springfield, OH; Park
Hills, KY; College Lutheran Church in Salem, VA and lastly the Floyd-Willis
Lutheran Parish.
During
his time in Springfield, Dick and his family provided housing for Betty, an
African-American high school student from Alabama, in order for her to attend
the all white High School in the county. Dick helped launch the first
interfaith prayer services during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He
spoke at various inter-faith worship services. He began a radio program with a
Catholic Priest and Jewish Rabbi and the three of them discussed the meanings
of about 15 religious holidays throughout the year. Dick helped form the
Greater Cincinnati Inter-Faith Commission.
While
living in Kentucky, he was instrumental in organizing the Northern Kentucky Society
for Better Housing. This organization (four Catholic and five Protestant
churches) bought and converted two large apartment buildings in downtown
Covington into a 24 apartment complex as housing for low-income people. They
named the complex “Giessler Gardens”. Rev. Giessler was named a Kentucky
Colonel by the Governor of KY to recognize his powerful work with the NAACP to
promote fair housing.
Dick
never was in the armed services. Rather than volunteering, he protested the Vietnam
War and was once arrested at a demonstration.
In
Salem, VA while serving College Lutheran Church for 16 years and where his children
grew up and finished high school, Dick preached and taught the gospel of love,
encouraged racial integration, peace, and supported the “war” on poverty,
social issues that divided brothers and sisters in most denominations.
During
his early years in Floyd County (Late 1980s) Dick was the chairman of the local
Red Cross monthly blood drive. He worked a short time for Crenshaw Lighting,
then sold insurance and investment products through Lutheran Brotherhood, now
known as Thrivent Financial Services. In 1999, he and his wife Diane began
providing 24/7 care for adults with developmental disabilities. He also worked
as a teacher’s assistant at Floyd County High School where he made a
significant difference in the lives of many students in need of a mentor. A
dream fulfilled was the construction of a solar powered log home in the woods
of Floyd County, surrounded by a close-knit community and gentle west breezes.
Dick
was an avid stamp collector and a Life Member in the American Philatelic
Society. His love and knowledge of stamps led him to become an astute
historian. Dick was a member of the Floyd County Historical Society as well as
a member of the Big Lick Stamp Club of Roanoke, VA.
Dick
enjoyed playing golf, hiking, camping and was passionate about books both rare
and classic. He also loved the theatre and was active in performance with the
Floyd Theater Group and the Zion Players.
He
and Diane were fortunate that they traveled to Colorado, Oregon, Alaska,
Hawaii, St. Martin, St. Lucia, St. Croix and Puerto Rico as well as Papua New
Guinea.
Dick
is preceded in death by his parents Frank Abraham Giessler and Dorothy Angelica
(Hunsicker) Giessler; brother Frank “Joseph” Giessler; former wife Jane
Hamilton (Greer) Hill; and adopted son Edwin Rohrbaugh.
Dick
is survived by his wife of 34 years, Diane Sims (Jordan) Giessler; daughter Lora Leigh Giessler of Floyd and her sons, Dylan
Richard Weiss, Clay William Weiss and Nathan Greer Weiss;
son Michael Paul Giessler of Roanoke, VA and his daughter Gabriela Sophia
Giessler-Hernandez of San Juan, Puerto Rico;
son David Hamilton Giessler and wife Dr. Azure Karli of Bend, OR and their sons
Dane Fletcher Giessler and Van Grayson Giessler; adopted daughter Beth
Rohrbaugh and her wife Polly Harman of Wilmington, NC; two step children, Glenn
Jenkins and Katey Jenkins; and nieces Jennifer Giessler
and JoEllen (Giessler) Weiss.
The
family is deeply grateful to Good Samaritan Hospice for Dick’s end of life
care.
Funeral
arrangements can be found on Maberry Funeral Home’s website. A funeral service
is planned for Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 3:00 pm at the Floyd Event Center,
located at 188 EcoVillage Trail. There will be a reception at the Center
following the service. If you would like to honor Dick, the family requests
that in lieu of flowers you consider a donation to Zion Lutheran Church’s
Community Care Fund. Mail donations to: Zion Lutheran Church, P O Box 37,
Floyd, VA 24091. Those unable to attend his funeral service and wish to view it can via Zoom. To get the link you will need to contact: Lora Leigh Giessler at loraleighgiessler@gmail.com
