Kristy K. Giesler

KRISTY KAYE GIESLER was born on October 28, 1982 to Evert and Carolyn (Bruggeman) Van Surksum in Pipestone, Minnesota. She grew up in Jasper, Minnesota and graduated from Pipestone-Jasper High School in 2002. She was married on June 28, 2000 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This union was blessed with two children, Clay and Rylee, the loves of her life. Kristy was always a hard worker. She was employed at the Good Samaritan Society - Sioux Falls Center from 2004 to 2006. On April 19, 2007, she started working for Sanford Luverne Medical Center in Luverne, Minnesota. In 2012, she also began working for Van Hawk Power Washing in Jasper. On Monday, May 11, 2015 Kristy died as the result of an accident at the age of 32 years, 4 months and 3 days.

Kristy was a member of Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was baptized on April 15, 1992 and confirmed her faith in 1997. She also attended Living Rock Church in Luverne. She enjoyed photography, gardening and tending her flower beds, fishing, bonfires in the backyard with her kids, and being outdoors. Kristy loved cooking and trying new recipes. She was a woman who could fend for herself, as evidenced by her title as family arm wrestling champion. She also had the title of the youngest of 57 Van Surksum cousins. Kristy loved her family and her greatest joy was being with her “kiddos”. She seldom missed her son’s sporting events and frequently attended her nieces’ and nephew’s events. Kristy and her children also enjoyed spending time with her boyfriend, Kelly and his daughter, Shanna.

Kristy is lovingly remembered by her children, Clay and Rylee of Jasper; her mother, Carolyn DeJongh of Jasper and special friend, Jim Vatne of Ihlen, MN; her siblings, Beth (Michael) Westerbur of Luverne, Ivan (Deb) Van Surksum of Jasper, Chad (Vanessa) Van Surksum of Luverne, Darla (Ivan) Westenberg of Sunnyside, Washington, Ruth (Rod) Corbin of Edgerton, Minnesota, Mavis (Mike) Hulstein of Leota, Minnesota, and Doug (Marilyn) Van Surksum of Bakersfield, California; boyfriend, Kelly Bakken and his daughter Shanna of Volga, South Dakota; aunts and uncles, Bert (Etta Mae) Gunnink, Pete (Betty) Voss and Gaybriel Lopau; nieces, Kendra Westerbur, Madisen Van Surksum, Sophia, Lauren, and Charlotte Van Surksum; nephew, Dylan Westerbur; and other family and numerous friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Evert Van Surksum; step-father, Dennis DeJongh; and her grandparents.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.