Mary Ellen Giese, age 89, of Toulon, Illinois and formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, December 11, 2008 at Toulon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

Funeral services for Mrs. Giese were held on Monday, December 15, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Visitation will be held at the funeral home for one hour prior to the beginning of the funeral service. Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.

Mary was born May 15, 1919 in Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Robert Tibbs and Maude Bryan Maxey. She married Alvin Giese on June 6, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He died October 24, 2006, in Toulon.

Mary was a homemaker and taught piano lessons for a number of years. She served as church pianist, organist, and Sunday School teacher for many years. She and her husband ministered at the Storm Lake Church of Christ, of which she was a member from 1948 to 1981.

Surviving are two sons: Reverend Brian (Sylvia) Giese of Kewanee, Illinois and Gary Giese of Maryville, Tennessee; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Bryan Maxey of Defiance, Ohio; extended family and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers and three sisters.

May God bless the memory of Mary Ellen Giese.