Gilbert A. Geiser

Gilbert A. Geiser, age 87, peacefully passed away under hospice care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 7:25 a.m.  He was a devoted, loving man, widower, father, grandfather, friend, sacrificial provider, peacemaker, caregiver, patient teacher with a conscientious work ethic.  Gil was a life-long resident of Ohio, residing in Dalton, Fredericksburg, Apple Creek, Cleveland and North Canton; wintering the last three years in West Hollywood, CA.  The third of ten children, he was born at home in Paint Twp, Wayne County, Ohio on September 23, 1932 to Allen P. and Orpha (Gerber) Geiser.

He completed 8-years of formal education from Apple Creek School, graduating in 1948.  His career began on the family dairy operation with custom crop sharing, bulldozer construction, and sawmilling.  He served in 1W (alternative) service 1952-1953 as a Nurse Aid at University of Cleveland.  Partnered with his eldest brother in milk can hauling which prepared him for driving for All States Trucking (1952-1962) and briefly in 1963 for Powerfax Propane in Wooster, OH.  His career as a Tool & Die Maker began at Wooster Brush, Menegay Tool & Die in Canton (1964-1965), Supreme Mold & Die in North Canton (1965-1979), Protista Tool as owner and president (1979-1987), and Superb Industries in New Bedford (1998-2000).  In 1987, he returned to the trucking industry driving for Don Grove in Greentown, then subsequently for Direct Transit in Canton, Harris Transportation in Monroe, NC, R&H in Burbank, Harold Miller in Uniontown, and BOBAN Transport in Barberton.

He married on September 13, 1958 to Marilyn Ann Shank, eldest daughter of Roy and Mable (Hilty) Shank, in their first home located on Emerson Road, Apple Creek, OH.  Active member of Guardian Ministries, Church of God Worldwide Association, and United Church of God, noting previous membership with Worldwide Church of God, Radio Church of God, and Kidron Mennonite Church.  His passion in life was serving people with a ministry of loving kindness through words and actions, devoted to family and community.  His married life to Marilyn for 59-years was enriched with children, education, industry and community service.  With their family, they traveled widely throughout the U.S., Canada, Bahamas, England, and Europe.  One of Gilbert’s favorite life scriptures was…

Psalms 128:1-6 TLB -- Blessings on all who reverence and trust the Lord – on all who obey Him!  Their reward shall be prosperity and happiness. Your wife shall be contented in your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around the dinner table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is God’s reward to those who reverence and trust him. May the Lord continually bless you with heaven’s blessings as well as with human joys. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren! And may God bless Israel!

Survived by his 6 children: Kevin Geiser of North Canton, Lorin Geiser of North Canton, Greg (Tawnya) Geiser of Spokane, WA, Karen Geiser of West Hollywood, CA, Diane (Eric) Frantz of Jefferson, OH, Mark (Shawn) Geiser of Hickory, NC; 12 grandchildren: Zachary Geiser of Winston-Salem, NC, Morgan Frantz of Jefferson, OH, Zane (Sarah) Geiser of Sydney, Australia, Trevor Frantz of Jefferson, OH, Jake Geiser of Hickory, NC, Stuart Frantz of Jefferson, OH, Makayla Frantz of Marina del Rey, CA, Lydia Frantz of Jefferson, OH, Josh Becker of Spokane, WA, Collin (Amanda) Becker of Wasilla, Alaska, Shelby Jefferson-Fink of Lancaster, CA, Trevor Jefferson of Veradale, WA; 2 great grandchildren: Zoey Fink and Maximux Fink; 5 siblings: Amos (Erma) Geiser of Kidron, OH, Esther (Lloyd) Lehman of Dalton, OH, Daniel Geiser of Apple Creek, OH, Doris (Dave) Miller of Wooster, OH, Ray (Carol) Geiser of Wooster, OH and sister-in-law, Delores Geiser of Overgaard, AZ; 31 nieces & nephews.  4 siblings through marriage: Anna Mae (Lamar) Lantz of Mesa, AZ, Donald (Terri) Shank of Cincinnati, OH; Jean (Ken) Witalis of North Canton, OH, Deborah (Lloyd) Patterson of Fort Wayne, IN; Predeceased by wife, Marilyn Ann (Shank) Geiser, parents, Allen and Orpha (Gerber) Geiser; brothers: Nathan Geiser, Frank Geiser, Peter Geiser and Sylvester Geiser; sisters-in-law: Pru Geiser and Lynda Geiser, brother-in-law: Kenneth Shank of Sharon, SC, granddaughter, Katelyn Frantz.

His 1W and church experiences nicely prepared him for The Adult Volunteer Concierge Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he volunteered 6-hours every Thursday, greeting and assisting patients coming into the hospital through the South Tower entrance.  He developed a new friendship with co-volunteers, Howard and Mark, who would arrive early before their shifts to bless the staff coming through the Plaza Level Lobby with a cheerful “Make It A Great Day!”.  As you can only imagine, the three of them have been sorely missed during this pandemic because the adult volunteer service was suspended for their safety.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Adult Volunteer Concierge Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - https://giving.cedars-sinai.edu/donate.

Due to COVID-19, a private family service and interment will be conducted at Beech Mennonite Cemetery adjacent to the church located at 10037 Easton St, Louisville, OH 44641 on Saturday, August 29th at 5:00 p.m., arranged with Stier-Israel Funeral Home in Louisville.  Family and friends are invited to participate via live streaming at https://youtu.be/3IRHO20kzoU.

The family invites you to visit http://www.stierisraelfuneralhome.com/listings to read the obituary, sign the online guestbook and share fond memories. -- Stier-Israel Funeral Home, 330-875-1414