David Clifford Grieser

Dave died Dec. 3, 2023 after completing 76 trips around the sun.

He leaves behind his wife, Judy Grieser, with whom he eloped on Valentine’s Day, 1969; daughter Heather Grieser-Yoder, granddaughter Reagan Adele Grieser Yoder, and grandson Cyrus David Grieser-Yoder; son Shannon Grieser and granddaughter Madison Henderson; son Corey Grieser and grandson Oliver Grieser; sisters Candy Hall and Nancy Anderson; and brothers Ken and Damon Grieser.  Before he died he lost his maternal and paternal grandparents, his parents, and two dear brothers.

There will be a private family graveside service on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Glendale Cemetery.

A public celebration of life service will be held at Woodlands Creek Senior Living, 12675 Woodlands Parkway, Clive, IA 50325 on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the Food Bank of Iowa.

Dave was continually reinventing himself.  As an amateur paleontologist in elementary school he scoured the eroded hills of the Rosebud Indian Reservation for petrified animals, and, as a want-to-be astronomer, tracked satellites and used his telescope to identify as much of the solar system as he was able.  He was a newspaper carrier in junior high, a journalist and musician in high school, and a radio announcer in college.  Earning his bachelor’s from South Dakota State University and master’s from the University of South Dakota, he taught English and coached speech activities for high schools in Lake Norden and Tyndall, South Dakota.  He later became a consultant for public television in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; an insurance agent; a trainer for insurance products and sales; and a writer.

Dave collected art and wine and was ready to play anyone a game of chess on any of his 29 sets.  He prepared food and experimented with flavors, and he accepted challenges of finding the ideal wines to pair with the cuisine.

David Grieser delighted in camping in Canada, beach-combing in the Bahamas, skiing in the Sierra and Rocky Mountains, exploring Edinburgh Castle, taking a horse-drawn jaunting cart around the Lake of Killarney (even when a spooked horse ran away), patronizing Dublin’s pubs, touching the crown jewels in Buckingham Palace, boating down the River Thames, viewing the art of the Louvre and Picasso’s art collection in Paris, discovering the Joan Miro museum in Barcelona, walking the Acropolis and running the original marathon from Marathon to Athens, immersing himself in the history of the Colosseum of Rome, seeking the Panama Canal, learning about the Inca culture and hiking Machu Picchu in Peru, walking among the Mayan ruins in Tulum and snorkeling in Mexico, reveling in the natural wonders of Iceland, and experiencing the foods and wines in Portugal.

David enjoyed symphonies, jazz, and other concerts; stand-up comedy; and Broadway, off-Broadway, community, and readers’ theatre.

David was a runner.  From 1995 to 2005 he ran 10-k’s, 10-milers, 20-k’s, half-marathons, 15-milers, and marathons.  After 2005 he simply ran for the health of it, usually five miles each day before breakfast.

From the time he began his first job at the age of 22 until he stopped working two months before turning 70, Dave never missed a day of work as a result of sickness.

It was a mere 76 trips around the sun, but what a ride it was.