Alador Joseph Giss, Jr.

Alador Joseph Giss Jr., affectionately known as “Sonny,” passed away on April 2, 2025, at the age of 86, surrounded by the love of his wife and children.

Born on May 17, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, Al was the only son of Alador and Mary Giss and grew up in a lively household with four sisters. In 1981, he married Gerrie Van Tassel, the love of his life, and together they built a home and family in Livonia.

Al proudly served in the Air Force National Guard from 1961 to 1962. After his honorable discharge, he went on to study mechanical engineering at Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University. He brought his skills to every corner of life—especially the garage, where no project was too big, too small, or too greasy.

Al was an avid marathoner in his early years, pounding the pavement with determination and discipline. That same commitment carried into a lifelong dedication to the gym—he was a familiar face at the weight rack well into his 80s.

A true motorhead with a passion for two wheels, Al was happiest with the wind in his face and the rumble of a motorcycle beneath him. His love for motorcycles spanned decades, and legend has it he believed a good ride could fix just about anything—except maybe a flat tire at 70 miles per hour.

When he wasn’t on the road or in the gym, Al loved to cook and took great pride in the fact that his Hungarian Chicken Paprikash could outshine any of his sisters’. (He never said it too loudly…but they all knew.)

Later in life, Al became an international traveler, proving it’s never too late to try something new.  He flew to Italy on two separate occasions and declared it simply THE BEST (shhhhh… don’t tell the Hungarians). Al also cherished time with his family, Sunday football, and lending a hand to any neighbor on Loveland St. who needed it.

Despite facing significant health challenges in recent years, he continued to live with resilience and humor, right up until the final two weeks of his life, when he was hospitalized due to leukemia.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Gerrie (Van Tassel) Giss; his children Nadine (Dan) Mersch, David (Amanda Lovely) Giss, and Kevin (Matthew McMahon) Giss; his grandson Lee Mersch; and his sisters JoAnn Orr and Kathleen Donaldson. Al also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins, who will remember his warmth, wit, and the way he could make any gathering feel like home. He was preceded in death by his son Matthew Anderson and sisters Eldoreen Donnell and Mary Moorhead.

A visitation will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd., Livonia, followed by a service at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Click Here in Al’s honor. His family also deeply encourages blood and especially platelet donations through the American Red Cross. These acts of generosity made a difference for Al—and they can be life-saving for others.

Please share your stories and memories of Al by signing his Guestbook. He loved a good tale, especially if it involved horsepower or heart.