Evelyn Giesenschlag

Evelyn Gaskamp Giesenschlag departed this life on January 17, 2017. Visitation will be Thursday, January 19, 4-7 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville. Services will be Friday, January 20, 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Karl Tewold officiating. Burial will follow in Giesenschlag Cemetery.

She was born November 11, 1924, to Robert F. and Ida (Rodenbeck) Gaskamp. She is a graduate of Brenham High School and Blinn College. Evelyn grew up in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brenham where she was confirmed.

On June 12, 1948, she married Melvin A. Giesenschlag at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brenham. She moved from Brenham to a farm at Mound Prairie near Snook. She learned to do farm tasks and when Melvin was in school she could be seen pulling trailers of cotton to the gin or taking water to the workers or delivering eggs to Bryan or Longpoint. She was the woman behind the Ag teacher always providing support and refreshments for Ag short courses or being a chaperone to the State Fair, FFA convention or livestock shows at Houston and San Antonio.

Once her children were in high school she continued to help on the farm but went back to work at the Agricultural Extension Service then later started over a 30 year banking career at Citizens State Bank in Somerville until her retirement.

She was always a promoter of local businesses and of bettering her community. She supported community organizations and was often a behind the scenes worker sharing her skills and cooking talents. She never stopped learning and stayed abreast of what the needs were of her family and her friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and two brothers: Robert E Gaskamp and Milton C. Gaskamp.

Survivors are her children Melynda Giesenschlag and John Robert Giesenschlag and his wife Connie, their children, Leslie R. Giesenschlag, Robert J. Giesenschlag and wife Kimberly, Randa Vajdak and husband Steven and Erin Walker, great-grandchildren, Grayson John Giesenschlag, Zachary Giesenschlag, Lance Vajdak, Wade Vajdak, her sister Marilyn Bentke and her husband Ernest Ray and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Faith United Church of Christ (PO Box 4470, Bryan, TX 77805), Crestview Retirement Community (2505 E Villa Maria Rd., Bryan, TX 77802), Hospice Brazos Valley (502 W. 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803) or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville.

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