Gerd Kiessling

Gerd Kiessling, 79, of Sandy, Utah, peacefully passed away on Oct 27, 2021.

Gerd was born to Alfred Ernst Kiessling and Paula Helene Wiese on May 8, 1942 in Bad Dürrenberg, East Germany. His parents divorced and his mother married Fritz Kalbitz. The couple moved to West Germany where they settled. Fritz was a loving stepfather to Gerd. When Gerd was nine years old his sister Bärbel was born and many happy years followed.

After high school, Gerd completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk and later studied international economics at the University of Evansville in Indiana. He moved to Detroit and worked at the Frühauf Company where he also met his first wife Carole. They were married thirteen years and lived in Germany and the U.S. While in Germany, Gerd worked for the Ford Motor Company. He spent most of his life in the Salt Lake City area where he worked as a financial planner and real estate investor. Gerd was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving as a ward missionary, immersing himself in family history and attending the temple regularly. He loved taking care of his yard, but was especially proud of his fruit trees and enjoyed sharing with his friends and neighbors. He was health-conscious and loved baking his own wheat bread. His passion was marathon running, hiking, and cycling. Dancing was also a big part of his life. He was always the last dancer on the floor, especially when it came to Latin dances and the West Coast Swing.

Gerd is survived by his sister, Bärbel Seidler (Hans-Peter), his nieces Karolin Matkowitz (Tobi), Sabine Köller (Sven), his nephew Christian Seidler (Svetlana), his great-niece Emilia and great-nephews Niklas, Jonas, and Simon. He is preceded in death by his parents Alfred Ernst Kiessling and Paula Helene Wiese.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Anderson and Goff Mortuary located at 11859 South 700 East, Draper, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held that same day one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at the West Jordan City Cemetery located at 7925 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utah on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 2 p.m. The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Sandy Health and Rehab, The Cascades at Riverwalk and Bristol Hospice. Special thanks is also extended to Landon Sandberg (attorney), Mark Warren (guardian) and friends Brittany Birk, Ellen Toth, Greg Wilson, and John Egbert. To watch the funeral proceedings online, please go to the Anderson & Goff Facebook page a the time of the funeral. The video will appear when the service starts.