Donald Dean Griessel

Donald Dean Griessel and his twin, Dolores Jean, were born May 22, 1935, in Kansas City, MO, to Martin and Dorothy (Mays) Griessel, with older brothers Robert and Frederick. His parents and siblings have predeceased him. Donald went home to be with the Lord on November 8, 2023, at St. Luke's Hospice House. He leaves his loving and much loved wife, Maribeth, his son, stepchildren, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren to honor him, grieve for him, but look forward to one day reuniting with him in Heaven.

Don attended Munger Elementary School and graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1953. An avid learner, he took many courses at a community college. He continued lifelong friendships with schoolmates, meeting for frequent breakfasts or lunches. The majority of his working life was as a switchman for Norfolk Southern Railroad, retiring in the summer of 1997. Likewise, RR friendships continued with monthly breakfasts. Following retirement, Don was a faithful Salvation Army Bellringer for many years, several times being honored and named "top moneymaker'' for the Northland.

An early marriage blessed him with two children, Steven Meier, a resident of Keller, TX, and Karen Civis, deceased. His second marriage was to the late Shirley Royston Prentiss McKenzie, to whom he was a devoted husband and father to her five children for 32 years.

Stepchildren Brenda, Gene and Marvin Prentiss have predeceased him. Jerri McKenzie Carmack (Jim) lives in Overland Park, KS, and Cheri McKenzie (Steve) Theodoropoulos resides in Bostic, NC.

Two and a half years following the loss of Shirley, Don married the new love God provided for his life, Maribeth Coll Kennicutt. He again became a supportive stepfather, now to her children, David (Jennifer) Kennicutt of Twinsburg, OH; Amy (Joey) Sadler, Raytown, MO; Michael (DeAnna) Kennicutt, Raytown, MO; and Danny (Jaime) Kennicutt, Lee's Summit, MO, though Danny lived with his mother and stepfather for the first year of their marriage.

In spite of the ravages of Parkinson's, God blessed Don with an unusually "good" day in April of this year to celebrate his silver wedding anniversary with Maribeth. Don loved and rejoiced as he visited with over 100 friends and family members. Don and Maribeth have been able to travel extensively and enjoy so many of God's glorious creations throughout the world, including Alaska, the Grand Canyon, mountain ranges, oceans, Canada, Ireland, Greece, Ephesus, a riverboat journey across Europe, of course numerous visits to Branson, and a very special tour of the Holy Land in 2000, during a thankfully peaceful time visiting places where Jesus lived and ministered.....Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Jordan River, and of course Jerusalem.

Through all the changes his life would bring, the one constant was his love of his Lord and Savior, beginning as a child at McMurray Methodist Church. His faith journey would continue with long stops at Claycomo Baptist and Centropolis Community Church until he completed his lifetime of worship and service at Gashland Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Now at home with the Lord, may he rejoice with hearing from our Savior, Jesus Christ, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."