Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, neighbor, and friend Thomas Charles Kiesling Sr., 72, of New Braunfels, TX went to be with his Heavenly Father to live eternally on Thursday, June 15, 2017.

Tom was the youngest of 4 children born to Werner and Ruby Helen Kiesling on December 16, 1944, in San Antonio, TX.  He graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1963 and attended Baylor and Southwest Texas Universities thereafter.  In 1967, he joined the US Army, serving as a pharmacist at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, followed by a tour at the 44 ^th MASH unit in Korea.  In 1968, he married Marsha Kiesling (née Engler).

After an honorable discharge from the Army, he and Marsha moved back to New Braunfels to stay, working as a surveyor, a computer programmer, then ended up in the family business, working with his father repairing radiators at New Braunfels Radiator Works, where he remained for 30 years.  Aside from building upon the impeccable reputation his father had started at the shop, Tom kept busy in his community as a member of the local Emergency Communication (EC) Club and the Freemasons, eventually earning his 33 ^rd degree in the Scottish Rite.  An ardent supporter of all things NBHS, he was responsible for the school's "We Believe" chant, spotted and announced for the Freshmen and JV football games for over 20 years, and was twice the president of the All-Sports Booster Club.  In 1993, he received the NBISD Silver Unicorn award.

Tom was an original, charismatic, fun-loving man who never met a stranger; everyone who knew him loved him, and that love was sincerely reciprocated.  With a myriad of talents, a teeming trove of titillating tales to tell, and an earnest interest in the interests of others, he lived his life with a servant's heart.  As the patriarch of a small section of Texas Avenue, the entire neighborhood looked forward to the many block parties he and Marsha hosted over the years.  Throughout his life, he was an agent of unity, bringing people together on holidays and special occasions.  His gatherings became special occasions in and of themselves.

His hobbies included fishing and hunting, but deer-hunting season with his nephew Rick Kiesling was exceptionally special for him.  Tom was also a perpetual tinkerer, always designing and building wooden or welded projects for friends and family, and his home on Texas Avenue became a mecca for anyone in need of a special tool, thingamajig, whatchamacallit, or doohickey. Tom Kiesling did all the right things and all the difficult things no one else could or wanted to do, and he did it all with a willful humility and a big smile beaming below his iconic moustache.

Tom is survived by his wife Marsha of 49 years, his son Thomas "Tommy" Charles Kiesling Jr. & wife Angie, his daughter Shealynn Korpi & husband Kevin.  "Poppy" is also survived by grandchildren Jonathan & Joshua Gomez, Kristy Gonzalez & husband Alex, and Tate & Jenna Korpi, great-grandchild Alexander "AJ" Gonzalez, brothers Werner Kiesling Jr. & Bob Kiesling and wife Betty Kiesling, as well as numerous "favorite" nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  He is preceded in death by his father Werner Kiesling Sr., mother Ruby Helen Kiesling, sister Joanna Brush, and nephew Ben Kiesling.

Public visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 PM Wednesday, June 21, 2017 in the chapel at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Oakwood Baptist Church with a graveside service to follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to a charity of one's choice.