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10/16/2018 - Fruita, CO, USA

October 11, 1936 - October 16, 2018

Jeanine E. Gieske, 82, passed away unexpectantly Tuesday morning, October 16. Her day started off full of life ready to head out with her sister-in-law for their weekly Tuesday adventure until she took her last breath. Mom, grandma, gigi, sister, and wife to Henry M. Gieske, she was one very loved woman by all who knew her. 

She was the daughter of French Basque sheep ranching immigrants, Bernard and Anna Etcheverry. Along with her sister, Marie, and brother, Loren, they lived in several Western Colorado towns from Sapinero, to Montrose, Mack, Fruita, and Westwater, Utah. 

On November 19, 1954, Jeanine married Henry M. Gieske and established the family farm in Loma, CO. 

In 1978 Jeanine began her very successful real estate career as an agent and soon owned her own brokerage firm, Fruita Realty, for 22 years, until she retired in 2001. This profession was ideal for her outgoing personality where she truly liked everyone she met and was an admired mentor to several real estate professionals still working decades in the industry. 

She was loved for so many aspects of her amazing personality; her always positive attitude, her love for her husband, Henry Gieske; children, Cyrie Wortmann (Duke), Bernie Gieske (Sarah), and Ruth Marasco (Bernie); grandchildren, Chase Wortmann (Nattigan), Erica Wortmann, Aubrey Raymond (Josh), Paige Marasco, Branden and Alison Gieske, and great-grandson, Declan Wortmann.

She was the loving wife of Henry for 64 years. In the early years they could be seen dancing the nights away at the Loma Dance Hall where they first met, to the Copeka, the Moose Lodge and several other places where jitterbug music could be heard. They bought a farm in Loma shortly after they were married where they raised their three children. 

They lived happily on the farm until 1995 when they moved to a home on the Redlands to be closer to their daughter and her two grandchildren. 

She drove to Fruita each day to run her successful real estate business until she retired. 

We could go on forever, but all know she was so vivacious, loving, and loved by her entire family and will be greatly missed. We all feel so very lucky to have had such a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, and mentor to so many. 

More importantly, she was a beautiful human being who profoundly touched all of our lives. We love and will miss you Jeanine Elisabeth Gieske.

A memorial service will take place on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Fellowship Church at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served following the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506.

(published in The Daily Sentinel, Legacy.com on Oct. 21, 2018)