Donald Joseph Griesbaum, proud veteran
Donald Joseph Griesbaum, 93, of Lewes, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023. After several months of declining health, Donald passed away peacefully under hospice care with his beloved wife, Shirley and their three children by his side.
Don was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 29, 1929, to parents Joseph and Eleanor. The seventh of nine children, he did not have the opportunity for a formal education. Don helped provide for his family at a very early age, working odd jobs to pass along his wages to his mother. His work ethic, giving heart, and patriotic spirit led him to serve in the U.S. Army in 1951-52. He was stationed in Fort Meade, prior to deployment to Korea and served as a combat soldier on the front lines.
After his return from Korea, Don had a New Year’s date that would be the beginning of a nearly 70-year-long relationship with Shirley Fisher, who became his wife in 1956. They spent their early years of marriage in Levittown, Pa., and eventually moved to Newtown, Pa., to raise their family. Don spent most of his working years as a U.S. steelworker. He loved keeping up the family’s four-story Victorian home in Newtown and supporting his children in their love of sports and childhood passions. Don and Shirley moved to Lewes in 1997. He continued to enjoy golf and the beach community with his family. Don was a loyal baseball fan watching the Phillies up to his final days. He was generous to a fault, with all but his favorite peanut candies.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Joanne Griesbaum; his children: Tara Norton, Todd Griesbaum (Tina) and Tracey Griesbaum (Jane Meyer); his grandchildren, Ashlea Anderson (David), Lynsey Kayal (Neil), Liam Norton, and Addison Griesbaum (Cory Kennedy); his great-grandchildren, Aspen and Ace Anderson, Kai Meadows, and Zayne Kayal; his sister-in-law, Laurine Kornetti and her family; and A. Joseph Norton.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 23, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Chapel committal with military honors will follow the service at 1 p.m., at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.
For those wishing to honor Donald’s lifelong commitment to family, friends and country can make donations to Delaware Commission of Veteran’s Affairs, 802 Silver Lake Blvd, Robbins Building, Ste.100, Dover, DE 19904; or Compassionate Care Hospice, 405 E. Marsh Lane, Newport, DE 19804.
Visit Don’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
