Our father, Raymond Giesbrecht, was born to David and Mary Loewen Giesbrecht in Turlock, California on August 23, 1943. He was the third son in a family of 7 boys and 1 girl. He peacefully passed away August 1, 2025.

Dad's family moved from their home in Winton, California to a farm along the Sacramento River at Glenn, California when he was eight years old. At the age of 11 he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized by his uncle, Minister Jake H. Loewen. He enjoyed farming and hauling hay in his teen years.

On May 17, 1964, dad married the love of his life, Melba Esau, in Winton, California, and they started out married life in a little house in Willows. A couple of years later they bought a farm in Butte City where he farmed a variety of crops including wheat, safflower, beans, corn, and sugar beets. Buying and selling equipment, hauling cracked rice, and fixing wells were a few additional ways dad provided for his family. The Lord blessed our parents with five children. Dad's love for the Lord and our mother, and his loyalty to the Church made our home happy and secure. Dad was a get er done man and expected his children to do likewise, teaching us to work hard, be on time, and not complain. Dad also liked to have fun, playing horseshoes, ping-pong, croquet, and swimming. Dad never knew a stranger and seldom passed up a chance to help someone in need. Many friends and sometimes strangers joined us for meals and nights. In his retirement years he liked to go to equipment parts or other errands. He bought many boxes of nuts and fruits to give away.

Losing his right eye in May of 1981 was traumatic and life changing event in dad's life. His faith and optimism carried him through and was able to continue providing for his family. He prayed that God would protect his remaining eye, and we believe God answered that prayer. He never had a cataract, and his sight was good all his life.

Dad treasured each one of us as we joined the family by birth or marriage. He was a positive man and wished everyone well, teaching by example to live life of forgiveness and love.

Remembering him with love are: our mother, Melba; children: Roberta and Linwood Jantz, Princeton, California; Carol and Vern Koehn, Texhoma, Oklahoma; Jeanette and Marshall Becker, Grandview, Idaho; Carl and Judith, Steven and Grace, both Princeton, California; twenty-three grandchildren, and twenty-nine great-grandchildren. His brothers: Jesse and Arlene, David and Janet, James and Lena Rose, Harry and Doris, Walt and Beth; one sister-in-law Karen; sister, Annie and Rodney Koehn. His in-laws; Sherrill and Joyce Esau, Nancy Esau, LaFreda Mininger, Lyvon and Marlys Esau, Karen Giesbrecht, and many more relatives and friends.

Gone on before are two brothers-in-law, his brother Ervy, and three great-grandsons, Anderson, Cyrus, and Isaac.