Gerald “Jerry” Henry Gieseking, age 75, of Nebraska City, passed away Dec. 29, 2023, at his home with his wife, Connie, and family members by his side.
Jerry had been evaluated multiple times for persistent respiratory symptoms and activity restriction for approximately three years prior to finally being diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a type of chronic interstitial lung disease, in the fall of 2021.
Jerry was born July 16, 1948, in Nebraska City, the son of Melvin William and Edna Ann (Seelhoff) Gieseking. Jerry was a 1966 graduate of Nebraska City High School and served in the U.S. Navy (June 1968-October 1972) during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Jerry began working for Bell Creek Trucking Company in Arlington, transporting livestock all across North America. Jerry met Connie Kohout in the spring of 1975 while both were enjoying a bike ride in Arbor Lodge State Park. Jerry and Connie were married June 26, 1976, in Friend at the Friend Congregational Church.
Shortly after marrying Connie, Jerry took a job with Syracuse Transfer to be closer to home. Jerry later worked as a lineman at the Nebraska City Utilities, beginning May 12, 1986, and retiring from the NCU as a line foreman July 12, 2013. While Jerry was well-known for being an avid birdwatcher and notorious jokester, he also had many other interests and hobbies. Jerry reveled in coaching his daughters’ many sports teams, including basketball, volleyball, T-ball and softball. Jerry was also a talented artist, notably creating fun and festive wall art for Connie’s music classrooms. He was also passionate about biking, gardening, nature, singing in the church choir and volunteering as a counselor at church camp.
Jerry loved reading, especially books on world history and quantum physics. Jerry was talented at many things, but his proudest accomplishments were being a well-loved husband, dad, Papa, brother, uncle, and friend.
Survivors include his wife, Connie of Nebraska City; daughters, Robyn (Timothy) Brown of Middleton, Wisconsin, and Laura Thomas (significant other, Graham Christensen) of Omaha; four grandchildren, Scout, Willa and Alma Brown and Grayson Thomas; sister, Peggy (Larry) Blocker of Nebraska City; brother, Ron (Donna) Gieseking of Columbus; brother-in-law, Calvin Kohout of Friend and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Hope Ellen; brother, Roger Gieseking; an infant sister; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edward and Alma Kohout, Jr.
Jerry’s family would like to thank everyone for their love and support, and we are encouraging friends and relatives to share stories about Jerry by emailing them to jerrygieseking1948@gmail.com or online condolences may be expressed at www.marshallfuneral.com.
There will be no services at this time. They will be held in the spring and announced at that time. Burial services will be held in the Omaha National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Nebraska City Veteran’s Memorial Building Project. Arrangements by Marshall Funeral Chapel of Nebraska City.
