James L. "Jimmy" Giesel Sr.

James "Jimmy" Lee Giesel, Sr., age 87, of Clear Lake, SD, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. A Memorial visitation will be from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at the Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake, SD. A private family burial with military honors presented by Charles Curry American Legion Post #49 of Clear Lake, SD, will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, Clear Lake. Houseman Funeral Home in Clear Lake is entrusted with the arrangements.
In Lieu of flowers memorials are preferred and will donated to the Hospice athenthe VA in Sioux Falls.
James Lee "Jimmy" Giesel, Sr., was born to John P Giesel & Irene (Barkve) Wagner on November 15, 1937, in Ocheyedan, Iowa. He grew up around the Ocheyedan & Hartley area where his mother stayed after his parents divorced. He also spent time with his father and stepmother John P & Dorothy (Stauffacher) Giesel in Clear Lake, SD. He joined the US Navy in January 1955 and did his boot camp in San Diego, CA. He then went to school in Hutchinson, KS for a Fire Rescue crew. He said he liked it because he never had to stand in line at the cafeteria. Then it was off to Great Bend KS for 18 months. Jim did two tours on the Lymann K Swenson. He was discharged in November of 1958 in San Francisco, CA.
Jim then married his first wife Jane (Huebner) Kraus in 1959. To this marriage, two children were born. Jane & Jim divorced in the late 1960's, and he married Karen (Grogan) Warn in November of 1971 and divorced in 1980. They had three children. Jim & Karen bought and sold 13 different bars & steakhouses during this marriage. They moved to Hartley, IA from Gary, SD in 1977 to help his mother run Red's Cafe during her medical issues. He also raised hogs and did a short-term position as Assistant Chief of Police in Sanborn, IA. After they divorced, he went to California for a short time and then returned to Clear Lake, SD. Jim then bought the Cafe and neighboring building. That was the birth of Jimmy's Cafe and The Mustang Pizza. He also owned Charlies Place and a bar in Marietta for a short time. Jim owned and rented out several homes in Clear Lake. He sold the Cafe and retired in early 2005. He started spending his winters in Nevada and then Texas, until his health started to diminish. Jim also was an avid rare coin collector and enjoyed buying classic cars. This was a hobby he shared with his two sons, Jimmy, Jr., and Chad. He also enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Buying and selling was in his blood.
Jim is survived by his five children: Kimberly (Dan) Robb of Vernon Center, MN, Brad Giesel and special friend Kelley Grover of Madison, WI., Jimmy (Robbie) Giesel, Jr. of Clear Lake, Chad Giesel and his special friend Crystal Beutke and her three children, also from Clear Lake, SD, Becky (Jamie) Resmen of Garretson, SD; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren and one great great-grandchild; his half-brother Paul (Kay) Giesel and half-sister Judy (Mike) Ahlers both of Clear Lake and several nieces and nephews and his stepmother Dorothy Giesel of Watertown.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John P. Giesel and Mr. and Mrs. Kent (Irene Barkve) Wagner of Hartley, Iowa.