Adam Giess

Adam Giess, 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, November 27, 2020. 

Adam lived an amazing life.  He was honest, kind, generous, and hard working.  He never questioned what the Lord had for him, whether it was a fall from a roof which led to cancer and the removal of his right arm, or the dementia he suffered that eventually took him from us.  He loved his family and spent quality time with his seven grandchildren, always teaching them “how to do.”  Family vacations were a favorite time of his, whether it was at Myrtle Beach, where they spent hours looking for shark’s teeth, or in a cabin near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, looking for bears in the woods near their cabin.  He also loved to travel; making sure his children saw the United States with trips to different parts of the U.S.  He also traveled internationally, making trips to Israel, Italy, Germany, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand.

He was born on May 20, 1934, to Johann and Anna Litzenberger Giess in Franzfeld, Yugoslavia.  After World War II, his family was imprisoned in a concentration camp for two years by Communist Dictator Tito.  More than half the people in the camp died of starvation or were shot.  After that, his family then spent three years in a forced labor camp before they were able to leave Yugoslavia and head to Germany.  They eventually made their way to America from Germany on a returning U.S. troop ship, USNS “General H. Taylor” in 1957.  Adam was proud to be a naturalized U.S. citizen.  He loved the freedom and opportunity America provided.  He was self-employed and built and worked his business, Giess Construction, until he retired completely at the age of 76.    He loved to talk about his life in Yugoslavia, particularly to warn people of the evils of socialism and communism.

Adam loved his church, the Mansfield Baptist Temple, where he was a member for 47 years.  He accepted Christ as his Savior in 1973 and never looked back.  He was faithful to serve wherever needed and was a Bus Captain in MBT’s Bus Ministry.  He loved visiting children every Saturday and then picking them up with the bus on Sunday for Sunday School and Church.  He served as a Bus Captain for 40 years, until his health prevented him from serving any longer.  In 2014, he was presented an award during MBT’s Men’s Conference for “perseverance and faithfulness in life and service for the Lord.”  The Richland Source interrviewed Adam in 2014.  Click here to read the article:   https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/beating-cancer-and-concentration-camps-the-story-of-adam-giess/article_62052cfa-7f20-11e4-933f-b38e2ff38e8b.html.

Adam is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judith “Judy” Giess, whom he met when his family, after just arriving in America, moved next door to her family.  He is also survived by his four children Joanne Giess, Mike (Alicia) Giess, Brian (Michele) Giess, and Ginger (Scott) McClelland, all of Mansfield; seven grandchildren, Abby, Jake, and Samantha McClelland and Michael Chase (Sydney), Candace, Cara, and Carmen Giess; one sister, Lisa (Chris) Hoffman, two sisters-in-law, Elsa Giess and Margot Giess in Germany; one aunt, Luise McFarlane in England; and many nieces and nephews across the U.S. and in Germany. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Katie Novak; and two brothers, George and Hans in Germany.

A celebration of life service will be held at Mansfield Baptist Temple, 752 N. Stewart Road, Mansfield, OH on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.  A graveside service will follow at Mansfield Memorial Park.  Pastor Robert J. Kurtz will officiate. 

Due to COVID precautions, there will be no calling hours. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to MBT’s Bus Ministry or Temple Christian School. 

Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, ltd. assisted the family with the funeral arrangements.

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