Robert Griesinger

Robert “Bob” Steven Joseph Griesinger, of Colville, Washington, departed Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, of medical complications.

He was born Aug. 4, 1956, to Melvin “Buck” Carl Griesinger and Jean Ann Theresa (Shuhert) Griesinger and raised in Dubuque.

He worked on a barge on the Mississippi River in his youth and graduated from Dubuque Senior High School. He also studied at Northeast Iowa Community College and received a certification as brick layer. While at NICC, he worked as a crew chief for the Young Adult Conservation Core at Yellow River State Forest where he met his future wife, Leta Mae Lynn Huss, and later married her on Oct. 10, 1981. Together they had three children, Shannon Holly, Melisa Rhiane and Morgan Lee. He went on to obtain his Associate of Arts degree at Southwestern Community College and his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education at Buena Vista University. He worked as a substitute teacher for Adair and occasionally Union County School District, prior to going to work for the Department of Natural Resources in southwest Iowa.

In the peak of his health, his hobbies included fishing, hunting, building bird houses and painting. He expressed his love of the outdoors and volunteered countless hours with the DNR in the fish restoration project for Lake Icaria in the early 1990s. He was an avid lover and supporter of Three Mile Lake, Twelve Mile Lake and Green Valley State Park in Creston. He also enjoyed working with John Hatfield on Hatfield Lakes.

Bob was a prankster and a loving father and family man. He was a special guy; a unique and genuine person. He loved hard work, animals and black labs. He loved anything to do with nature, and taught his children to appreciate and respect it as well. He knew how to cook the best tasting fish, and could make a non-venison eater a lover of venison. He had 50-plus pet mallards that made for interesting background props in the hunting pictures when he’d bring home and pose at home with the wild kills.

Despite his health issues, he always had someone to mentor, and had a big heart for others, especially troubled youth. Formerly skilled with his hands, he had recently found enjoyment in painting with the help of a caregiver. He was known to have had “a sometimes crispy exterior with a marshmallow interior.”

A “Dad” quote that used to always drive us kids crazy, usually used in embarrassing situations, comes to mind, “I’m Bob Griesinger. I do what I want.” He was saying that 20 years before it became a meme. He was a relentless fighter and a warrior.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin C. Griesinger and Jean A. Griesinger.

His legacy survives by Leta Phillips of Kettle Falls, Washington; his daughters, Shannon Griesinger of Colville, Washington, Melisa Griesinger of Austin, Texas, and Morgan Griesinger of Colville, Washington; his granddaughter, Sophia Raquel Christensen of Colville, Washington, and Greenfield and eight brothers and sisters, Kris and husband Art Mangliers of Boulder Creek, California, Nancy and husband Carey LaSoya of Sherrill, Kim and husband Ken Wiesner of Preston, Julie and husband Gary Welter of Dubuque, Joe and wife Joanne Griesinger of Dubuque, Rich and wife Brenda Griesinger of Spring, Texas, Kevin and wife Bonnie Griesinger of Dubuque and Tom and wife Cindy Griesinger of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to make a special mention thanking Ashley Ann Collins and all the other ResCare individuals for the wonderful care they took of him in Colville.