We are very happy to be serving the people of our communities. Caring for families in their time of need brings great meaning and satisfaction into our lives.

Ernest J. Gieseke was born in 1950 and grew up in Marietta, Minnesota. He attended school there and graduated from Marietta High School in 1968. He graduated from Willmar State Junior College in Willmar, Minnesota in 1970 with an A.S. degree. He received his mortuary science training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota, Dept. of Mortuary Science in 1972 with a B.S. degree in Mortuary Science. He was employed at the Sundseth-Anderson Funeral Home in Minneapolis for 5 years. He also worked a short time at the Albin Funeral Chapel in Minneapolis as part of his college curriculum.

In 1974 Ernie married Linda Dahle in Milbank, South Dakota. In 1975 they moved to Detroit Lakes where Ernie worked at the Donehower Funeral Home. In 1981 Ernie became part owner of the Donehower firm. In 1984 he sold his interest in Donehower's to his partner, David Karsnia, and bought the Eeg Funeral Chapel in Greenbush, Minnesota from Ross and Dee Eeg. This business eventually became the Gieseke Funeral Chapel. Ernie is a Fully Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in both Minnesota and North Dakota. He is also an official CFSP.

Linda was born in 1952 and attended school at Albee and Milbank, SD. She graduated from Milbank High School in 1971. She worked in the home office of Milbank Mutual Insurance Company before working in the Auto Underwriting Dept. of Great American Insurance Co. in downtown Minneapolis. In Detroit Lakes, Linda worked as a teaching assistant in Lincoln Elementary School and as a bookkeeper for A & B Auto Supply Co. She then worked as a teller at Detroit State Bank for many years. She also owned and operated THE PLANT SHACK, a seasonal retail plant business located in the Pavilion Plaza at Detroit Lakes. In Greenbush, she owned and operated Gieseke Floral & Gifts for 16 years. She also has operated a travel agency and formerly served as the Secretary at Bethel Lutheran Church in Greenbush. She currently operates Gieseke Trophies as well as assisting at Gieseke Funeral Chapel.

Ernie and Linda had two children, Christine and Andrew. Christine passed away on September 25, 2012. Her obit is in the obituary section. Andrew married Jessica Sutherland of Waconia, MN in 2009, they live at Chaska, MN and have two sons, Levi and Cole. Andrew is employed as a National Account Business Development Specialist in the Legal Technologies Department of the Computer Software Industry and Jess is employed by The Royal Bank of Canada in downtown Minneapolis.