Charles "Chuck" Henry Kiessling, Sr.'s Obituary
Charles "Chuck" Henry Kiessling Sr., 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Delaware, Ohio on September 14, 2024.
Chuck was born on January 15, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Oscar E. Kiessling and Martha C. Kiessling (née Goelz). He graduated from John Marshall High School in Cleveland in 1954, and shortly after, began a lifelong commitment to serving our country by joining the U.S. Marine Corps where he served overseas in Japan and the Philippines as a Military Police Officer.
Following his honorable discharge from the military in 1957, Chuck joined the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, starting as a Trackless Trolley Operator and concluding a 34-year career as Director of Scheduling. After retiring from the Cleveland RTA, Chuck pursued his passion for craftsmanship, repairing and building clocks at Suburban Clock and Repair in Berea, Ohio.
Although he left the military to pursue a civilian life, Chuck remained steadfast in his commitment to supporting our men and women in uniform for the next 65 years. He proudly served in various positions and posts within the Marine Corps League and the American Legion, both as a participant and a leader.
Chuck is survived by his daughter-in-law, Kathleen Kiessling (née Dzierzawski) of Delaware, OH; three grandchildren: Charles III (Jodi) of Delaware, OH, Jeanette of Delaware, OH, and Theodore (Alison) of Nottingham, MD; as well as two great-grandchildren, Charles IV and Jack.
He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar; mother, Martha; brothers, Ernst and Ronald; sister, Annabelle Spencer; and his sons, Robert and Charles Jr.
A public memorial service for Chuck will be held on Friday, September 27, at 10 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Chapel, 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070. Military honors and a burial service will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery, 4566 Pearl Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109.
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