John Roger Van Gieson

John Roger Van Gieson, of Seabrook Island, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2022 with his wife by his side.  He was 61 years old.

John was born to Walter and Joan Van Gieson in Yonkers, NY, on September 17, 1960.  His family moved to Raleigh, NC when he was four and he remained in Raleigh until heading off to college.  John attended Appalachian State University, in Boone, NC, and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the Walker College of Business.  After college, John went to work for Oscar Mayer, first as a Sales Representative and then in Sales Management.  In 1994, he went to work for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network where he provided expert financial planning assistance to his many friends and clients.

John was passionate about people…family and friends always came first.  He made friends quickly and easily and he was always there for others.  John’s other great passion was waterskiing.  He loved being out on the water, skiing and hanging with his friends.  John waterskied competitively for a number of years and qualified and skied at the Waterski National Championships.  He also loved downhill skiing and soccer and he played soccer for many years on club teams.  He was affectionately known as “Gramps” when he played in Minnesota well into his thirties.  John always had a positive outlook on life and, despite his brain tumor diagnosis in 2008, he remained positive and upbeat and lived life to the fullest. 

John is survived by Nancy Van Gieson, his wife of 34 years, his mother Joan Van Gieson, his brothers Joseph (Susan), Peter (Maureen) and David, his sister Debby, his nephews Eric, Jody, Robert, Matthew and Bradley, and many great-nieces/nephews.  John is preceded in death by his father, Walter Van Gieson.

Celebration of Life events to honor John will be held in Minneapolis, MN, Raleigh, NC and Annapolis, MD over the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in John’s honor may be made to Humor to Fight the Tumor Foundation. He and Nancy are long-time supporters of Humor to Fight the Tumor and John served on the organizing committee for their annual gala for many years.  Information about Humor to Fight the Tumor and the Foundation can be found at www.humortofightthetumor.org/.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Memorial arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412.