Harry Bernard Geisler

GEDCOM Note

Biography ==Harry was born in 1910. He passed away in 2007. Son of Albert Geisler and Kathryn Mahoney. Harry was Sales Manager at Meinhardt Cartage Co in Quincy, Illinois.

Obit.Harry Bernard Geisler, age 96, of 6063 E. Arbor Ave., Mesa, AZ and formerly of Quincy died Sunday, March 11, 2007 at 6:00 pm. in the Hospiceof the Valley, Mesa, AZ.
Harry Bernard Geisler | Hansen-Spear Funeral Home – Quincy, IllinoisHarry was born October 21, 1910 in Chicago, Illinois. The son of Albert and Katherine Maloney Geisler, Harry was the oldest of eight children.
He attended grade school at the Allen Mitchell School and graduated from McKinley High School in 1928-29. During high school, Harry played football. After graduation, he worked for Montgomery Ward before going into business for himself. The first of many transportation related jobs, Harry purchased a horse and wagon and began his first business venture delivering ice and coal. When the Great Depression hit, he had tosell his horse and wagon because folks couldn’t afford to buy ice or coal. Harry was always willing to work any place he could get a job to help his parents and seven brothers and sisters make it through those bleak years. At the age of 24, Harry bought his first truck and launched a career in trucking that would ultimately be marked with more than 50 years of success and adventure. In 1938, when he leased the truck to the Meinhardt Cartage Company forthe Chicago to Quincy run, he met Carlene Amanda Meinhardt in the Quincy office. Their courtship continued when Carlene was sent by her father, Hugh, to dispatch and operate the Chicago office. Harry and Carlene were married on June 19, 1941 in St. Genevieve’s Church in Chicago. She died May 12, 2004. They had two children, Edward Geisler, who drowned in 1972 and Sharon Cushman of Mesa, AZ. They had three grandchildren and five great grandchildren, all of Arizona: Steven Harry Cushman, his wife Laurie and three children, Jana, Jamie and Jennifer; Tamara Cushman Fatheree, her husband Arnold and their daughter Bridget; and Kevin Royal Cushman (deceased) and his daughter Chelsie. Harry is also survived by 2 sisters, Ruth Fuller, and Bernice Osterman, both of Westchester, IL; 2 brothers, Howard and Kenneth Geisler, both of Canada; ten nieces and nephews on the Geisler side of the family and two nieces on the Meinhardt side of the family. In addition to his wife Carlene, son Edward and grandson Kevin he was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Marge Long and Blanch Kreiner, and a brother Albert Geisler. Areas of professional involvement through the years included: Chicago Traffic and Transportation Club, Quincy Traffic Club, and the AmericanTruck Historical Society, from whom he received the Truck Transportation Founders Award, having started trucking before 1935. He received the honor in Philadelphia, PA, when the society’s annual meeting was sponsored by Gully Transportation, who bought the Meinhardt Cartage Company’s over-the-road rights, when the Geislers retired in 1979. Harry spent many years with Meinhardt Cartage Company in Freight Solicitation. Long after retirement, he stayed in touch with companies who used Meinhardt to ship their freight. Harry loved trucking, his connections and his tri-state community…Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Afterretiring in 1979, Harry and his wife totally enjoyed their community and found numerous ways to show their personal and generous support for the community they loved, including the following areas: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Over 60 Club, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Quincy Notre Dame sports, both boys and girls, Booster Clubs at Culver Stockton, Quincy University and Quincy Notre Dame, Quincy Park District, softball and soccer, YMCA football and baseball (built theGeisler Field, sponsored both baseball and football teams), MaranathaPhillips Field. They sponsored girls’ softball teams, Girl Scouts (built Geisler Lodge at the Wildwood Girl Scout Camp), Boys Scouts (built a cottage at Camp Saukenauk, now called the Club House by camp masters), Hall of Fame Members at QND, YMCA, CYO, Life Members of QND, Culver Stockton, QU and YMCA sports organizations, received the first 150year Bible recognition from the YMCA, as they celebrated 150th anniversary, celebrated with Chaddock School’s 150th anniversary (helped with Grandma Geisler’s Closet, where extra needs of the children are provided; built the Geisler Pavilion, which is enjoyed by all at Chaddock and gave a golf cart, that also bears the Geisler name. They established the scholarship fund at Culver Stockton in memory of the Meinhardt Family, Hugh and Amanda, and his son Edward. Harry was a Godly man who faithfully acknowledged that God walked withhim through every moment of his life. He was family centered, loving,caring and supportive in every way. He adored his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and, he was an advocated for all other children. He had the utmost character and integrity, was patriotic and dedicated to God and Country. Harry was devoted to Carlene, his wife for over 62 years, served as a her greatest source of strength and encouragement to support her in the many areas of community service and involvement that she pursued. They were always a team and were recognized bythe entire tri-state area as exceptional philanthropists, who made a significant difference in the lives of thousands and thousands of individuals as well as impacting the quality of life in the entire community. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 11:00 am in Blessed Sacrament Church, Monsignor Michael Kuse officiating. Visitationwill be Saturday from 10 am until the time of services at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery. Memorials may begiven to the Chaddock School or Hospice of the Valley.

Sources

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• The Michael Wahrer Family in America, 1990, Page 70
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120397652/harry-bernard-geisler