Kathryn H. Giesler

Kathryn H. Giesler, age 81, of Belle passed away on Sunday, August 19, 2018 at the Frene Valley of Owensville nursing facility.  

Kathryn born on June 3, 1937, in Summerfield, the daughter to the late Harold and Ruby (Johnson) Strain.      

She was a 1954 graduate of Belle High School and received her Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

On June 18, 1960 Kathryn was united in marriage to Edward Huston Gielser at Pilot Knob Church. Ed and Kathryn spent 55 years together before Ed passed away on September 8, 2015.

She was a lifelong area resident, a member of the Pilot Knob Church for 73 years, a member of the Maries County Historical Society, and Missouri Retired Teachers Association and had been the director of WMU.   

Kathryn began her teaching career in one room school houses and eventually retired from Vienna in 1992 after 30 years.  She served as the Music Director at Pilot Knob for many years and planned all the special music at the church including the Christmas and Easter Cantatas. Kathryn was a good Christian woman and was very dedicated to her church. She loved missions and traveled to Belarus twice with the Missouri Baptist Association. Kathryn loved living the farm life and enjoyed reading and crocheting. She loved animals, especially her Border Collie, Ranger. Above all, she loved being a grandma. She will greatly missed by all those that knew and loved her.

Kathryn is survived by: two daughters, Merry Drewel of Gerald, and Kirsten Walje and husband Russ of Richmond, TX; Grandchildren, SGT. Ethan Walje and wife Arianna, and Lexi Walje, Kassie Drewel and friend Mike Richardson; one great grandchild, Kyler; brothers and sisters, Joyce Dotson and husband Bob, of Belle, Doyle Strain and wife Joyce, of Ferguson, Debra Jett and husband Macey, of Holts Summit, Bill Strain and wife Joyce, of O’Fallon, as well as well as many extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband Kathryn is preceded in death by one brother, Kent Strain.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 24, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Sassmann’s Chapel in Belle.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Pilot Knob Baptist Church near Belle with Perry Wolfe officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Pilot Knob Cemetery.