David Paul Giesing

June 5, 1945—January 19, 2013

David Paul Giesing was born on June 5, 1945 in San Diego, California, the youngest child of Alban and Katherine Giesing. Dave had three older sisters, Tess, Pet and Anita, and seven older brothers, Tony, Tom, Frank, Don, Dan, Philip and Bernie. He went to Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Saint Augustine High School. After graduation, he followed in the footsteps of several of his brothers and entered the sheet metal trade where he worked a 26 year career.

In 1971, Dave married Trudy Roepke, and the couple moved into a little house in Lakeside. They went on to have three children, John, Heidi and Lucas, before divorcing in 1985.

Dave was very intellectual and he had a love for reading and learning. He was particularly interested in science, astronomy and archeology. An amateur archeologist himself, Dave loved going hunting for fossils in the canyons and cliffs along the San Diego coastline. He acquired quite a collection of unique and beautiful fossils over the years.

Dave loved working with his hands and enjoyed carpentry as a hobby, building cabinets, chests and shelves for his family. He also had an affinity for the earth, and was known for the amazing tomatoes that came out of his garden. Dave enjoyed all types of music, and played the drums in several garage bands. His favorite genre of music was classic rock-and-roll, and he will be remembered by many for his funny interpretations of his favorite song, “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen. Later in life, after his retirement from the sheet metal trade, he turned his love of music and skills as a craftsman into a second career, building banjos for Deering Banjo.

What Dave enjoyed most in his later years was the relationships he developed with his grandchildren, Elias, Hannah, Ben, Charlie and Samuel. He loved holding and cuddling the little ones, and spent a lot of time with the bigger kids after school and on the weekends. He took them on bike rides, taught them about math and drafting, read books to them about dinosaurs and fossils and showed them how to use tools and build forts in his backyard. Dave was one cool Grampa.

On January, 19, 2013 Dave died at the age of 67 after a two year battle with small cell lung cancer. He is survived by his three children, five grandchildren, nine brothers and sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Frank.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, at Goodbody Mortuary, San Diego, with a rosary at 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 1, at Santa Sophia Catholic Church, Spring Valley. After the Mass, burial will be at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, San Diego. Reception to follow at Santa Sophia Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers make a donation to Living Coast Discovery Center. http://www.thelivingcoast.org/