Roy W. Gisler

The celebration of life for Roy W. Gisler, 90, a longtime Stewartville resident, will be at 11:00  A.M. on Wednesday (December 19,  2018) at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Stewartville, with Rev. John Grams officiating.  Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville.  Mr. Gisler died on Monday (December 10,  2018) peacefully, of natural causes, at his home.

Roy Walter Gisler was the third of three children born in Trenton,MI  to M. Walter and Erna L.(Pirsig) Gisler. While still an infant, the family moved to Chicago, IL. After graduating from high school in Chicago, he took an interest in agriculture, and acquired an associate degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Roy was married on July 1, 1950 to Carol Moore. He enrolled at Trinity College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, graduating in 1954 with a bachelor degree in theology. Roy then assumed the pastorate of the Evangelical Free Church in Webster, SD. The Gislers moved to the Stewartville area in 1956 the same year IBM came to Rochester. Roy applied for a position at that time and worked for IBM for 35 years, retiring as a systems analyst in 1991. The Gislers raised their children in Stewartville, where they have continued to make their home.

In December of 1959 there was a pastoral vacancy in the pulpit at the Oakwood Methodist Church in Millville and the leadership asked Roy if he would assume the pastoral role. He did and continued in that position until the summer of 1964, when he felt he needed to spend more time with his children. He was very active in the local church, helping to establish Grace Evangelical Free Church in Stewartville. Roy was very interested in Christian missionary work and spent a lot of time pursuing those goals, especially in retirement. He went on 19 different mission trips to seven different countries since his retirement. He enjoyed hard work and and serving others.

Roy is survived by his wife of 68 years - Carol, his children - Sharon (David) Walker of Buffalo,MN,  Kevin (Susan) and Steven (Maryan) both of Stewartville. He and Carol were blessed with 10 grandchildren (Coreen, Andrea, Monica, Nathan, Danielle, Laura, Thomas, William, James, and John) and 14 great-grandchildren. He also has a sister - Erna Sarnowski in Wild Rose,WI. He was preceded in death by his daughter – Linda,  a grandson – Robert, his parents and sister -  Elsie Gisler.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday at Grace Church from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. On-line condolences and memories of Roy are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.

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