A lifelong resident of Marystown, MN, Marvin Andrew Geis was 78 years old, when he passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday evening, March 2, 2016, while recovering from colon cancer surgery, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN. A simple man, Marv was an individual, who taught his family by examples, the true meaning of loyalty, generosity, honesty, wisdom and the ethic of hard work. He was a strong man devoted to his faith, farming and most of all family. Marv had a great sense of humor, with his hardy and contagious laugh heard echoing in any room!
All of the service will be held at The Parish of St. Joachim and Anne (Marystown). The family will greet guests on Sunday, March 6 from 2-7 pm and on Monday, March 7 from 9:15-10:30 am, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, presided by Father Peter Hughes. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Alex Geis, Spencer Geis, Jamie Von Bank, Cory Von Bank, Andy Geis, Jake Klegstad, Dalton O’Brien, and Landon Karst. Marv will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s of Marystown Catholic Cemetery.
On the family farm in Marystown, Marv was born the second of nine children to Paul George and Loretta Rose (Busch) Geis on October 14, 1937. He walked to and from school (uphill both ways!) at Marystown Catholic School, where Marv graduated from the eighth grade. Like most farm boys of this era, he was needed to work side by side with his parents on the farm. For a few years, Marv even worked some odd jobs, hauling milk cans for Fritz Doerr and working for an area cement contractor. But he was always drawn back to his roots of farming, so Marv returned working on the family farm.
It was at the Spring Lake Pavilion, Marv met a beautiful woman, Mary Lou Menke. Dancing the night away, he later drove her home and the rest is history. On April 22, 1961 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Jordan, MN, Marv and Mary Lou were united in Holy Matrimony. With the exception of a few short months, he took his first breath in the same house, Marv and Mary Lou have shared together for nearly 55 years. They were blessed with nine children, Tim, Jean, John, Mary, Julie, Paula, Joe, Karen and Sharon.
Over the years, Marv seen the evolution of farming. He first cultivated and cut hay with a team of horses and later working these same fields with his first and only four wheeled John Deere tractor. He milked thousands of cows, first by hand and later by machine. In January of 2003, Marv sold the cows and began raising beef cattle. Working side by side as a couple and family, countless hours were spent fixing equipment and fence, tending to the animals, picking up rock and working in the fields. All this hard work earned the Geis family the Outstanding Farm Family of the year.
Years ago, Sunday’s were sacred. It meant attending church together as a family, taking Sunday drives, stopping for a bite to eat and visiting relatives along the way. Over the years, Marv and Mary Lou enjoyed dancing, playing cards and listening to old time music. Retiring from milking the cows, Marv still worked the fields. But now he and Mary Lou were able to focus on the simpler things in life, especially being grandparents. Marv’s softer side came out as his face would light up seeing his grandchildren. He loved teasing them, giving them nicknames and just spending time with them.
Left to honor Marv’s life and will forever miss and love him is wife Mary Lou; children, Tim (Nancy) Geis, Jean (Brian) Von Bank, John (Connie) Geis, Mary (Dean) Klegstad, Julie (Tim) O’Brien, Paula (Bryan) Karst, Joe (Jessica) Geis, Karen (Nate) Hentges, Sharon (Jason) Henning; grandchildren, Alex (Becky) Geis, Spencer (Kami) Geis, Greta (Ben) Bauer, Joel Hergott, Alan Hergott, Ben Hergott, Melissa (Chad) Heitz, Jamie (Aubre) Von Bank, Cory (Dani) Von Bank, Andy Geis, Billy Geis, Nick Geis, Hannah Klegstad, Jake Klegstad, Emma Klegstad, Dalton O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Amber O’Brien, Evan O’Brien, Landon Karst, Ella Karst, Addie Karst, Jailyn Geis, Luke Geis, Lance Geis, Levi Geis, Heath Hentges, Ruby Lou Hentges, Hudson Hentges; great-grandchildren, Kallista Geis, Tinsley Geis, Nora Heitz; siblings, Marlene Hartman, Roger (Joyce) Geis, Carol (Virgil) Gestach, Ronnie (JoAnn) Geis, Judy (Tom) Dehmer, Bonnie (Tim) Scharnhorst, Kenny (Cindy) Geis, Donna (Dave) Seivert; other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by parents and brother-in-law, Cyril Hartman.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, proudly served and cared for the Geis family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
