The Giel's of Pennsylvania
William Giel
William Giel, commonly known as Bill Giel, was born on July 11, 1946, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Emma Jean Settlemeyer and William Paul Giel.
Bill Giel's parent's, both from Pittsburgh, met while ice skating in Pittsburgh. They married and had four children, our ancestor, Bill Giel and his three siblings: Regis, Pam and Jim Giel. Bill Giel's father, William Paul Giel, died in Easton, Pennsylvania on February 23, 2020. He was 97 years of age. Emma Jean (Settlemeyer) Giel, commonly known as Jean, was 80 years of age upon her death on April 19, 2004.
Emma Jean Settlemeyer's parents, Cass and John Settlemeyer, our ancestors, were from families that settled in Greensburgh, Pennsylvania, fifty miles east of Pittsburgh. Families came to Greensburgh to work the coal mines. Many of those families lost their breadwinners to Black Lung Disease. Emma Jean's father escaped that perilous ending by working the railroads. Emma Jean's son, Bill Giel, entered a perilous epoch in his own life just days after his twentieth birthday.
William Giel, the United States Marine
The Vietnam War era was a tumultuous time in American history. That war defined an entire generation. America entered the war in 1965. It ended in 1975. 58,000, mostly young American men like Bill Giel, died in that unpopular conflict. Bill Giel, like most of those who perished, was drafted to serve in that war.
On July 21, 1966, Bill Giel arrived at Parris Island, located in Port Royal, South Carolina, to begin the Marine Corps boot camp. In 1967, Bill was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for advanced infantry training. From Camp Lejeune, Bill was sent to the Marine Base Camp on the coast of Southern California, Camp Pendleton. He was so impressive as a new Marine that his superiors kept him at Camp
Pendleton as an instructor.
Prudence Moore and William Giel marry in 1969
On June 21, 1968, the 21 year old U.S. Marine, Bill Giel, had the good fortune to meet the talented 19 year old Prudence Moore, a new employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The couple dated throughout the summer of 1968. They married in Mamaroneck, New York, on October 11, 1969.
The couple first lived in Yonkers, New York. They then purchased a home not far from Pru's parent's home on Hall Street in Mamaroneck, New York. Eventually, the family moved to 579 County Road in Milford, New Jersey. Bill, who worked for AT & T when he was discharged from the Marines, established his own business thereafter.
Dawn Kathryn Giel, the eldest of Bill and Prudence (Moore) Giel's two daughters, was born on August 9, 1984. Dawn was born at Morristown Hospital, in New Jersey. Her sister, Dayna Giel, was born on October 15, 1986, at the same hospital. Both girls attended North Hunterdon Regional High School, of Annandale, New Jersey.
In high school, Dawn Giel was an accomplished athlete. Whether Dawn Giel, was winning the New Jersey State championship at age 15, in the Floor Exercise, while placing near the top in the Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam or All Around, her gymnastics excellence continued until she caught the eye of Rutgers University head coach, Chrystal Chollet-Norton. At the college level, Dawn's athletic achievements continued, against the likes of Maryland, Cornell, Pittsburgh, Yale and Penn State.
The Hunterdon Review, the Hunterdon County Democrat, the Courier News and the Star-Ledger newspapers, all covered the athletic exploits of Dawn Giel. However, it was only a generation before, that Prudence Moore, of Mamaroneck, New York, commonly known as Pru, was herself covered by local newspapers while winning beauty contests in her teens.
The Giel sisters were accomplished in most endeavors. Academics was one of them. Dayna Giel, graduated from Virginia Tech, with a degree in Psychology. She matriculated from the University of Miami with a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Dawn, graduated from Rutgers University. Since 2007, she's worked as a journalist with CNBC, the Consumer News and Business Channel.
Dawn Giel meets Timothy Lawton
Dawn Giel, moved to New York City upon being hired to work for the prestigious CNBC. The move was fortuitous in other ways as well. It was there that she met a West Point graduate from Massachusetts.
November 21, 2019, was the day Dawn Giel, of New Jersey, first met and dated Timothy Lawton of Massachusetts. At the end of that first date they said goodbye to one another, on the corner of West 12th and West 4th in New York City. They both knew then that they were meant for one another.
That corner in New York City was important to Tim Lawton. He memorialized its importance two years later. It was at that same spot on Sunday afternoon, December 19, 2021, that Tim proposed to "Auntie Dawn". Only ten months later, it all became official.
The Giel-Lawton wedding in Montana
At 4:30 pm, on Saturday, October 22, 2022, Tim Lawton and Dawn Giel, married at Rainbow Ranch Lodge, located on the banks of the Gallatin River, in Big Sky, Montana. The celebrant was Sean King, a friend of the couple. Tim's siblings, Patrick and Molly (Lawton) Kaylor, stood up for their brother. Dayna Giel, stood up for her older sister.
In the week before the Montana wedding, the locals characterized the weather as unusually warm and temperate. Late in the day on October 21, 2022, however, the temperature dropped and more seasonal Montana weather returned. The snow started to fall. The weather forced the wedding ceremony to be moved from the banks of the Gallatin River to the second floor porch of the lodge, but still exposed to the elements.
The reception was held under the white tent erected only 30 feet from the Gallatin River. Those invitees from places like New York City, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida or elsewhere, expressed happiness to have been invited.
At the beginning of the reception, Dawn's father, Bill Giel, welcomed everyone in attendance. Unfortunately, the one person he was unable to invite and the person who Dawn Giel wanted most to be present for the celebration, was her mother, Prudence Ann (Moore) Giel. Prudence, passed away at her home, on March 16, 2022, after a long illness. She was just two months shy of her 73rd birthday.
Dawn and Tim's announcement
On July 27th, 2023, Tim and Dawn Lawton, drove from New York City to Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Tim, had made the trip for several years, to celebrate his birthday (July 30th) and his father Mark's birthday on July 26th.
Shortly after arriving at the Lawton home in Bridgewater, Tim and Dawn handed Mark a small bag, wishing Mark a 'happy birthday'. The contents of the bag exceeded any expectations that Tim's parents may have had. Inside was an envelope. The contents inside the envelope fell onto the kitchen countertop - a black and white ultrasound of the newest member of the family; and, President John Adams' youngest cousin. The congratulatory hugs quickly followed.
On Saturday, July 29, 2023, Tim and Dawn had to tell the rest of the family the good news. The plan was to rent a pontoon boat at Roht Marina in Marshfield, Massachusetts and ride up the North River toward the Atlantic Ocean, stopping at the mouth of the river called 'The Spit'. They planned to spend the day on the beach at that spot.
Powering their way up the North River in their pontoon boat on the way to 'The Spit', Molly, Travis, their girls (Vivian and Quinn) and Patrick, would hear the great news from Tim and Dawn. It was perfect. What was even more perfect was five year-old Vivian's response to the news: "I've been waiting my whole life to hold a brand new baby." From the mouth of babes.
On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, the newest member of the Giel/Moore/O'Leary/Lawton Family was born. His name -- River Cillian Lawton; 7.9 pounds and almost 21 inches tall. River, became the youngest cousin to the 2nd President of the United States, John Adams; the youngest descendant of 'Winthrop's Fleet' which established the City of Boston in 1630; and, the youngest descendant of tenant-famers from County Cork, Ireland.