Dieter Griesinger

Dieter E. Griesinger, age 75, of Maple Park, IL, formerly of Aurora, IL, passed away Wednesday, August 23, following an assertive and gallant battle with AL Amyloidosis with cardiac involvement. He now walks with angels.
Dieter was born in Stuttgart, Germany, Erwin and Frieda (Krueger) Griesinger; he was baptized, raised and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
He grew up in Stuttgart and attended local schools. After graduation, Dieter worked as a machinist and tool maker for the federal government of Germany, but he had higher aspirations. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 19 through Chicago, IL and worked for family at Fox Valley Forge in Aurora as a machinist and tool maker. He learned English by going to social events and listening to conversations.
Like many who came to America, Dieter had a strong work ethic and a thirst for knowledge. While working full time, Dieter found time to continue his education in Chicago, eventually earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
After honing his skills at Fox Valley Forge, Dieter brought his growing expertise to Eaton Corporation, eventually working at three of their facilities in Carol Stream, Batavia and Rochelle. He mentored many in the field that he loved. He held multiple positions throughout the years in Operations & Engineering. Dieter retired from Eaton Corporation after 35 years of service as a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer.
Dieter married Carol Morse in 1965 and then Carole Natalini in 1976. Fate smiled on him once again when he met and later married Donna Riggs. He was blessed with three children, Eric, Hans and Dietre, all of whom had a special place in his heart.
Dieter was a proud member of SCCA, Sports Car Club of America, an auto racing organization for over 40 years.
Racing was Dieter’s passion and it began on the motorcycle tracks in Germany, he later made the jump to racing cars. When not at work, he would be elbow deep in his racecar, often re-engineering every detail just to gain the slightest advantage. It didn’t have to be a car for Dieter to dive into a project, even something as simple as a Pinewood Derby Car got his creative juices flowing. Nothing was stock in Dieter’s life because he could always make it better, faster or work more efficiently, even if he had to build his own tools to do it. In his younger years, Dieter liked to hunt, fish and sail, but his love of soccer was passed down to each of his children. Each time they practiced, echoes of his youth in Germany would fill his heart. His life was one of hard work, passion and drive and those who knew him will remember the impact he made on their lives.
He is survived by his wife Donna (Riggs) Griesinger; three children: Eric (fiancée Selynn Hinkle) Griesinger, Hans Griesinger and Dietre Griesinger; several cousins including: Manny (Joyce) Staiger and Helga “Monica” Arnold and a family of friends.
Dieter was preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Frieda Griesinger, a cousin Hans Peter “Pete” Staiger and his step-mother, Hilde Wolfien.
Visitation will be at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, 317 N 4th St, DeKalb, IL 60115 from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, August 29th, 2017. A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 30, also at the church. Interment will follow at Kaneville Cemetery, Kaneville, IL.
Contributions may be sent in Dieter’s name to P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Checks may be made to “Mayo Clinic Amyloidosis Research”. Tributes may be sent to the same address or left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page. You can also see his full life story at www.conleycare.com.

A funeral to celebrate his life will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 30, also at the church.

Visitation will be at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, 317 N 4th St, DeKalb, IL 60115 from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, August 29th, 2017.

Interment will follow at Kaneville Cemetery, Kaneville, IL.