Last Known Activity:
Neal Donald Gieske, 82, of Spotsylvania County passed away Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, at Mary Washington Hospital.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Jeanne Frances Gieske; his parents, William and Gertrude Gieske of Bethlehem, Pa.; and siblings, William Gieske Jr. and Patricia Perna of Allentown, Pa.
He is survived by his daughters, Linda Wilson and her husband, Ronald, of Lexington Park, Md., Laura Roberts and her husband, Gary, of Spotsylvania, Lisa Wells and her husband, Samuel, of Sapulpa, Okla., and Lois Mangione and her companion, Charles Abbott, of Santee, Calif.
He also is survived by his grandchildren, Amy Kodluboy and her husband, John, Kate Edgar and her husband, George, Michael Richardson, Garret Roberts and Miranda Roberts, Adam Dodge, Micah Dodge, Samantha Wells, Ken Laituri, Nicholas Mangione and Zachary Mangione; and great-grandchildren, Christine and Joseph Kodluboy, Riley and Quinn Edgar, Mikaela and Devin Richardson, and Haylee and Skylar Laituri.
Other survivors include his cousins, Lynn Zettlemoyer of Orefield, Pa., and Herb Zettlemoyer of Schnecksville, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.
Neal was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pa. He admitted to not enjoying school and being very anxious to see the world at a young age.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 after his 17th birthday.
His career as a Navy ordnanceman and U.S. civil servant spanned a period of 40 years, including World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It included numerous deployments to various countries, including the Marianas, Occupied Japan, Bermuda, Korea, Cuba, Iceland, Scotland, Vietnam and several Western Pacific deployments aboard the USS Oriskany, USS Bon Homme Richard and the USS Constellation.
Following his Navy retirement, Neal was offered a civil service position at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md., which would take advantage of his extensive experience in aviation ordnance. His performance in that position and his nationally recognized expert- ise soon led to a promotion to section head for all Navy test and evaluation of aviation armament-handling equipment. He filled that role until his retirement from the federal government in 1982.
When stationed at PAX River in 1964 and residing in St. Mary's County, Neal enjoyed fishing, boating and crabbing with family and friends on the Chesapeake Bay and riding his beloved Andalusian stallion, Banbury's Tamale.
Neal and his wife, Jeanne, relocated to Pine Ridge Estates in Citrus County, Fla., in 1982, where they enjoyed their Andalusian horse breeding and participated in numerous equestrian activities.
Neal was a volunteer with Citrus County Volunteer Fire Department for several years and worked part time for Florida Power at its Crystal River Nuclear Plant. He enjoyed fishing and boating and family vacations on the Gulf Coast and roller-coaster riding at amusement parks with his sons-in-law and grandchildren.
Neal left Florida in 2004 due to health concerns and his family's desire for him to be closer to family members. Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances were also taken into consideration that year.
He lived in the Fredericksburg area and Falls Run, where he enjoyed, and very much appreciated, his neighbors and community activities, especially Cinco De Mayo festivities.
In October 2007, Neal moved to Spotsylvania near Lake Anna, where he enjoyed the tranquillity of the countryside, his online lists with former Navy and civilian friends, including his EOD buddies, visits with family and holiday get-togethers, and the much-loved companionship of his devoted pet, Angus.
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