Obituary - Chester Gisselberg

A funeral service for Chester Gisselberg, 90, former St. John area farmer, will be Saturday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax. A potluck dinner will follow at the Wheatland Grange Hall. Private burial will be in the St. John Cemetery.

Mr. Gisselberg, died last Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, in Seattle. He recently made his home at Ellensburg after residing in the Hood Canal area during his retirement years.

Born Sept. 23, 1922, in Cathlamet to Paul and Luella Brooks Gisselberg, he grew up on Puget Island and graduated from high school in Cathlamet. Following high school, he worked as a logger and then attended Washington State College where he met Mary Myrle Ingram, also a WSC student. They married Nov. 18, 1943, in a family wedding in the Gisselberg home on Puget Island near Cathlamet. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and she returned to the family farm in St. John while he was stationed overseas in the Philippine Islands. After the war, they returned to Pullman where Chet finished his degree.

They moved to the Ingram ranch near St. John in 1955, and farmed there until Chet’s retirement in 1978. Following retirement, they moved to Hood Canal where they loved living near the water. Winters were spent traveling and “snow-birding” in Baja, Mexico, and later in Arizona. He was a past member of the Wheatland Grange, St. John Saddle Club and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing at many west coast locations and in Canada. He also enjoyed wood-working and carving, growing flowers, and dancing.

After nearly 65 years of marriage, his wife, Myrle, died Aug. 22, 2008, and he moved to Ellensburg to be closer to family members.

Surviving are a son, Jim (Margaret) Gisselberg, St. John; two daughters, Cheryl (Bill) Arensmeyer, Olympia; and Virginia (Paul) Sorenson, Ellensburg; two brothers, Alfred of Seattle and Paul of Seabeck; 5 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was also prededed in death by a granddaughter, and a great-grandson.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Wheatland Grange or the St. John Cemetery. On-line guest book: http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com