John Thomas Geis Sr.
- Published: October 8, 2009
John Thomas Geis Sr. of Yellow Springs, 93, died Oct. 1 at his home. John was born Jan. 21, 1916, in Springfield. He was preceded in death by his son, John T. Geis Jr., parents Lorenz and Margareta Bergmann Geis, brothers Ferdinand, Leonard and Edward Geis and a sister, Mary Ray. John is survived by his loving wife Nellie (Toms) Geis, whom he married on July 2, 1946, in Charlottesville, Va. They were married 63 years. In addition to his wife, John is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law: Jane (Tom) Blessing of Xenia, Jean (Bob) Brookey of Fairborn, and Claudia (Terry) Duncan of Yellow Springs. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law Kim Geis of Xenia. John leaves ten grandchildren: Thomas E. Blessing IV, Jeffrey Duncan (Wendy), Scott Brookey (Heather), Travis Duncan (Holly), Heather Gaskill (Craig), Matthew Brookey (Ashley), Christina Brookey, Craig Brookey, Zachary Blessing and John (J.T.) Geis III. John also leaves seven great-grandchildren: Allyson Duncan, Tyler and Tanner Steward, Chloe Gaskill, Vaughn and Triston Duncan and Carter Brookey. John also leaves many nieces and nephews.
During World War II, John served in the 83rd Battalion of the Seabees. He received his training in Virginia Beach in 1943. He served from 1943–1945 in Trinidad, Hawaiian Islands, Phillipines and China. John was employed as a carpenter for P.W. Mercer in Yellow Springs and the Yellow Springs Foundry. He also worked as a finish carpenter for the Danis Corporation in Dayton and remained there until his retirement in 1979. John was a member of the St. Brigid Catholic Church in Xenia, where he served on the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, the local #1807 Carpenters Union in Dayton as well as a member of the VFW of Enon.
John was an avid fisherman, loved the outdoors, and above all loved his family. A special thanks to the staff, nurses and care givers at Hospice of Dayton. A mass of Christian burial was held on Oct. 6 from the St. Paul Catholic Church and burial followed in St. Paul Church Cemetery. The family requests contributions be made in John’s memory to Hospice of Dayton or the American Lung Association.
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