Arthur C. "Butch" Giessman, 70, of St. Louis County, passed away peacefully fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Sunday, March 29, 2020. He was born August 30, 1949 in St. Louis, MO, to Arthur and Bertha Giessman. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jan (nee Moeller), he was the loving father of Tracy (Castin) Anderson, Cherie Giessman DiNoia, Justin (Nicole) Giessman, Danielle (David) Beck; proud grandfather of Jakob and Josephine Anderson, Raffaele and Marcella DiNoia, Jude, Isabella and Jackson Giessman, and Piper, August and Elliot Beck; loving Brother of John (Vernie) Giessman, Bill (Mary Jo) Giessman, Rita (Fred) Denny, Mary Anne (Warren) Watson, and Tommy Joe Giessman.

Butch attended St. Gregory Catholic Grade School in St. Ann, MO, Mercy High School, and Parks College of St. Louis University where he earned his B.S. Degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering as well as his FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certificate. He also held the FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) Certificate and a Private Pilot License.
Growing up in the family grocery store, Giessman's Market, he got the nickname "Little Butch" since his father and brothers were meat cutters. After Butch graduated from Parks College, he worked as an A&P at Rockwell International moving through the ranks to Service Manager. In 1974, Butch left Rockwell to help start the Technical Services Department at MidCoast Aviation, where he worked until 1982 when he left to run AVMATS full time. AVMATS was founded in 1978 with a group of Butch's friends, and MidCoast was the first AVMATS customer. Over the last 42 years, Butch gathered the finest team of people and grew the AVMATS family while ensuring he maintained his unique culture and family atmosphere.

Butch was a supporter of the local and national aircraft maintenance organizations and was a founder and early president of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). He was an avid supporter of the A&P schools to include Parks College, Southwest Illinois College, Missouri Technical College, Gateway Tech, Spartan School of Aeronautics, and more.

Butch served on the boards of several local banks as well as charities, including Wings of Hope, Corporate America Supports You (CASY), and Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN).

Butch asked that we not mourn his death, but celebrate his life. A Celebration of Life Party will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Wings of Hope, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis, and the American Heart Association.