. Elmer Gietzen

Elmer "Al" F. Gietzen

GRAND HAVEN- Elmer (Al) F. Gietzen age 85, of Grand Haven, MI passed away Sunday, February 14, 2010 at Heartwood Lodge Hospice House in Spring Lake, MI. He was born December 12, 1924 in Detroit, Mi, the son of Joseph F. Sr. & Irene C. (DeFour) Gietzen. Al was the district sales manager of West Michigan for Michigan Bell Telephone Company where he worked for 35 years. He served in France and England during World War II in the US Army. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Grand Haven, The American Legion, Grand Haven Country Club and the AT & T Pioneers. Previously he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Egypt Valley Country Club, and served on the board of directors of the former Greenridge Country Club. His passion in life was golf and he also enjoyed carpentry, reading and skeet shooting. Al is survived by his wife of 57 years, Millie (Korte) of Grand Haven; daughter and son in law Heidi & Dan Hutchins of Grand Rapids; sons and daughters in law Jeffrey & Kathy Gietzen of Alto and Gregory & Denise Gietzen of Greenville; 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren; brothers Richard of Warren, MI; and Raymond of Palos Verdes, CA; sister Evelyn Bols of Sun City West, AZ. and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Joseph Gietzen, Jr. and his sisters Rita Dumas, Dorothy Brower, Lorraine Derylo and Marion LeFevre. Funeral Mass and Military Committal will be 11 AM Saturday, February 20, 2010 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Grand Haven. Visitation will be Friday from 3 to 5 PM and 7 to 9 PM with a rosary at 8:30 PM at the Klaassen Family Funeral Home in Grand Haven. Private family burial will be at ResurrectionCemetery, Grand Rapids.

To Uncle Elmer and your family and extended family, Our heartfelt condolences go to you and yours. I will miss our extended conversations on business and investing as you had quite the extensive knowledge in it and information to share with others. We will miss you at the family reunions but hope you are there inspirit.
Love, Craig and Karen Dumas, Jack, and Ella

Jeff, Kathy & family...Just wanted you to know that you and your family are in our prayers...that you will feel "His" arms of support and comfort around each of you! Much love and many blessings,
AJ & Kris Jones (former McD's co-workers)

Millie and Family: It has been a long time since we have seen you, but we want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dick and Joan Howard Good old Mich. Bell

Millie & Family, My sympathies in the loss of Al. He will be greatly missed but remembered fondly by all of you. Al was a great mentor and coach for me during my short career at Michigan Bell. He helped me grow to be able to handle the very largest accounts. I will always remember the hospitality that Millie and Al showed to Paul and I over the yesrs. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Joan Bruhnke Tolley

I'm deeply sorry for your loss of our dear Uncle Elmer. Whenever he was with the extended Gietzen family, he always was interested in catching up on what we were all doing and was upbeat about his own health. He is now with five siblings, Joe, Rita, Dorothy, Marian, and Lorraine, who will care for him. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Genie Brower Collins