Francis James Griesemer

Francis J. (Frank) Griesemer, of Indianapolis, IN, died Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at the Beatitudes Campus in Phoenix, AZ, following a vigorous life of service to his family and country. He was 93½ years of age. He leaves his wife of 67 years, Barbara (Mills) Griesemer; his son, David A. Griesemer (Patricia Barrett), and his daughters, Susan G. Thompson (John) and Jennifer G. Gadow (Craig Turley); his grandsons, Matthew B. Griesemer (Ashley West), Michael B. Griesemer (Sharelle Harlan), Timothy B. Griesemer, J. Scott Thompson, Christopher M. Thompson, and Darren D. Gadow, and his granddaughters, Sarah G. Pflug (Chaun) and Zoe S. Gadow; his great-grandson, C. William Pflug, and his great-granddaughters, Emma Grace Pflug and Chloe N. Griesemer; two of his five brothers, Clifford G. Griesemer and Richard A. Griesemer; and descendants of all his brothers.

Born on July 8, 1922, Frank grew up in very humble circumstances with life-long respect for his parents Calvin Walter Griesemer and Anna Marie (Watton) Griesemer, and with love for his older brother Calvin and younger brothers Leonard, Richard, Clifford, and Bob. He graduated from University of Indianapolis in 1944, with his final year spent at U.S. Navy Supply School at Harvard University. He then attended Midshipmen School at Notre Dame before serving in the South Pacific 1944-1946. Following World War II service, he earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from Butler University in 1949, and subsequently taught at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis. He was called back to active duty 1952-1954, when he served at the Navy Exchange-Air Station in Norfolk, VA. Following the Korean Conflict, he continued postgraduate studies at Indiana University and the University of Colorado. Frank remained committed in service to the United States Navy, continuing as a Reserve Officer and rising to the rank of Captain.

Frank and Barbara were married on May 29, 1949, in Crawfordsville, IN, where they started their family two years later. Over the years the growing family moved to Norfolk, VA, Denver, CO, Colorado Springs, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, Greenwood, IN, San Mateo, CA, and Sun City West, AZ. Frank provided help, encouragement, and motivation to both family and friends, and in return was blessed with lifelong support from so many. As a husband, Frank remained deeply committed to Barbara with a love that remained steadfast throughout the decades.

Beginning in Colorado, Frank spent the majority of his career in management of manufacturing, This included gold mining processing equipment and underground mining machinery for 20 years, heavy duty long-haul trucks for 5 years, and Schlage Company lock products for 10 years. Each of these jobs required extensive international business expertise. He was among the first American businessmen to visit China in the early 1980’s. His abilities to actively listen, skillfully negotiate, subtly motivate, and masterfully organize were skills that made him a successful international businessman before the current concept of multinational corporations was widely understood. As a father and uncle, these same skills, coupled with unlimited patience and energy, made him a gentle parent, an empathetic listener, an effective teacher, and a powerful role model.

Throughout his life, Frank was a quietly spiritual man who put his faith into practice every moment of every day and served his church fellowship actively. Originally a member of the Evangelical United Brethern Church, throughout his life he remained active in the United Methodist Church. The best summation of Frank’s life is that he genuinely demonstrated the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

Funeral services were held at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Sun City West, AZ, at 1 PM on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. Interment with full military honors was at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, AZ, at 2 PM. Reception for family and friends was at the Beatitudes Campus in Phoenix, AZ, at 3 PM. Gifts in honor or memory of Capt. Francis Griesemer, USNR, may be given to the Code of Support Foundation (www.codeofsupport.org).