Leerie Giese

Leerie Giese, 96, of San Marcos died May 18, 2018. Leerie will be forever lovingly remembered by daughters Nevin Cunningham and Stephanie Yoes and husband Charles, grandchildren Drew Cunningham, Lauren Yoes and partner Neal Smith, Erin Swanson and husband Romey, great-grandsons Hunter Davidson and Jace Smith, and step great-grandson Christian Swanson. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy H. Giese and Meta Wagner Giese, brothers Kervin and Ayres Ross, sister Ida Bell and wife Dorothy Stuart Giese. Born in Round Top in 1922, he grew up in La Grange, and enrolled in Texas A&M in September, 1940. In 1943 the Army took him into active duty, and after attending OCS he was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant and reported to Camp Hood to train Tank Destroyer recruits in 1944. In 1945, he was sent to Germany and joined the 772nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. After VE Day he returned to A&M and graduated in September, 1946. Following graduation, he served as Manager of the Chamber of Commerce in Refugio and later in Brazoria County. From 1952 to 1982 he was employed by the First National Bank of Angleton, Texas where he served as a Senior Officer, President and Chairman of the Board before retiring. He continued to work in banking in Fayetteville Bank and La Grange National Bank for many years thereafter. Leerie joined Rotary Club in 1946, achieved 65 years of perfect attendance, and was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International. His longstanding Shriner’s membership was also a source of great pride to Leerie. An avid hunter, Leerie enjoyed both the thrill of the hunt as well as the meaningful interactions with his wonderful hunting buddies. Leerie met his wife and the love of his life, Dorothy Jane Stuart, on a blind date in 1951. During their 63 year marriage, they built their lives in Angleton, La Grange and Round Top. While in Round Top, they restored the old Giese family homestead, Haw Creek Farm, built in 1864, for which the Texas Historical Commission awarded an Official Historical Medallion designating the home as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2002. They greatly enjoyed traveling the United States and Europe and loved entertaining their many friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 3039 Ranch Road 12, San Marcos, Texas 78666. Those who so desire may make donations in memory of Leerie to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, The Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607, or the charity of their choice. For more information, call Thomason Funeral Home at (512) 396-2300. To sign the guest registry please visit our website at www. thomasonfuneralhome.com.