Larned- Inez Leona (Birzer) Giessel, 90, passed away September 29, 2016 at the Arbor Court Retirement Community in Topeka, KS.

She was born January 16, 1926 in Rural Barton County, KS., a mile east of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, north of Ellinwood, the 16th of 18 children born to Joseph and Mathilda (Beran) Birzer. She graduated from the eighth grade at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School.

On February 11, 1947 she married John Jacob Giessel and they began their life together on the farm northwest of Larned, KS. He passed away April 13, 1985.

After raising their family, she obtained her G.E.D. and worked for many years as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned, KS. In October of 2015 she moved to Topeka, KS. She was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Larned and Most Pure Heart Catholic Church of Topeka. She also was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary. She was especially gifted with artistic talent, leaving a legacy of handcrafted quilts and beautiful hand-painted china. Her strength and joy in her life was her faith and her family.

Survivors include: two sisters, Margaret Reichuber, Hutchinson, KS. and Bertha Achatz and husband Milton, Ellinwood, KS.; one sister-in-law, Edith Mae Giessel, Spearville, KS.; Her children include, Dr. Michael Giessel and wife Cindy of Topeka, KS., Madalene Miller and husband Sandy of Nacogdoches, TX., Tom Giessel and wife Sheryl of Larned, KS., Jay Giessel and wife Katherine Moran of Burlington, KS.; Ten grandchildren, Justin Miller (Dianne) of Eagan, MN., Amanda Peterson (Chuck) of Topeka, KS., Doug Miller (Allison) of Kingwood, TX., Sarah Parrish (Marc) of Prairie Village, KS., Andrew Giessel (Darci Hanna) of Somerville, MA., Lynn Wright (Kelly) of Johnson, KS., Jerrod Giessel (Katie) of Shawnee, KS., Kate Giessel of Brooklyn, NY., Cari Beauchamp (Sam) of Farnsworth, TX. and Ann Bonsignore (Diego) of Mission, KS. She also had eighteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, August and Emma (Infancy), James, George, Albert, Robert, Clara, Kate, Mary, Helen, Elizabeth, Anna, Laura, Cecilia and Eleanor.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am Monday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, KS. with Father Warren Stecklein presiding. Rosary and Vigil service will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, on Sunday at 7 p.m. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery following the service.

Memorials may be given to the Sacred Heart Education Center, Larned, KS. the Midland Hospice, Topeka, KS. or the Arbor Court Retirement Community, Topeka, KS. in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS. 67550.