For 11 years local business owner Danny Giefer gave his knowledge and time to help better the city of Emporia as a member of the Emporia City Commission.
Saturday, the City of Emporia extended its praise and love for Giefer and his commitment to Emporia and expressed its deepest sympathies to the Giefer family upon learning his passing earlier in the day. Giefer had been battling Leiomyosarcoma for the past year following a diagnosis in early 2023.
Despite the diagnosis and stepping down as mayor of Emporia shortly after it was announced, Giefer maintained his position on the Emporia City Commission, a position he had held since 2013, up until his death. City Manager Trey Cocking says this dedication illustrates just how proud an Emporian Giefer truly was.
Interim RDA President and longtime City Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt spoke with KVOE News following the news of Giefer’s passing and says he was more than a community leader, he was a “steward” of Emporia.
In 1970 Giefer and his newly wedded bride Betty moved to Emporia to raise their family. City Commissioner Susan Brinkman, who served with Giefer on the city commission for the past four years, stated that during her time with Giefer, it became apparent that family and community were the two cornerstones of which Giefer built and lived his life.
After a career as an electrician for Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, Giefer would showcase his business acumen by becoming the owner and operator of several business ventures locally, most notably Mr. G’s Car Wash. Former Emporia City Manager Mark McAnarney says Giefer was very proud of his accomplishments as a business owner, not because of the notoriety it brought him but because of the services they brought to the citizens of Emporia.
In addition to his love for the community, all who spoke with KVOE News Saturday noted how Giefer always had a fair, measured and positive approach to any city matters. In terms of his love for others, McAnarney stated the love Giefer had for his family and the community was returned tenfold. He said the clearest example of this was how Giefer’s grandchildren “sparkled anytime they were near Danny.”
Funeral services for Giefer have yet to be announced.
