Valdosta, GA - Rose-Marlene (Mickie) Gieske, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN. A resident of Valdosta since 1983, died in her home of cancer at 1:10 am April 20, 2026.

Born in San Francisco, CA on January 29, 1934. She was an Associate Professor at Valdosta State University, School of Nursing until retiring in 1993. She had been an Associate Professor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ; University of Wisconsin, in Oshkosh; University of Wyoming, Laramie. She worked in Cottage Grove, OR; Delaware State Health Department, Wilmington, DE; Public Health Service of Washington, DC; and Richmond Memorial Hospital, Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Gieske graduated from St Dominic's Parochial School in San Francisco, CA. She attended high school in San Francisco and Tunghunga, CA and then graduated from Paseo HIgh School in Kansas City, Missouri. After receiving a Diploma from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado, she went on to receive a Bachelor's of Science in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia; a Master's of Science in Neurological Nursing from the University of Maryland in Baltimore; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Supervision from Georgia State University.

Dr. Gieske served honorably in the Women's Army Corp in Fort Lee, Virginia; the Signal Corp, Fort Gordon, GA; Arlington Hall Station, Fairfax, VA; and the Army Security Agency, Frankfort, Germany from 1952 to 1956. She had been a member of Phi Delta Kappa, the national education honorary society; the American Association of University Women; South Georgia Writers Guild; Theater Guild of Valdosta; Friends of the Library, Valdosta. She was a Charter Member of Sigma Theta Tau, the national nurse's honorary society; Southern Nurses Research Society; and Women in Military Service for America.

She spent hours happily playing Mah Jongg, attending many classes from Living in Retirement, VSU; Billiards at the Senior Center. One of her greatest joys was to travel. She visited all 50 states and 35 countries. Her favorite trips were New Zealand and Peru.

In memoriam contributions can be made to Women's Memorial Foundation, 200 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22203 or a Cancer society or charity of your choice.