Mary Elizabeth Geil

Mary Elizabeth Geil, age 72, of Bolivar, Missouri, left this life for eternal life with her Savior on Friday, December 9, after a brief illness. Mary was born on March 21, 1944, in Wauseon, Ohio, to Walter H. and Ruth Duensing Christian and was baptized into the Christian faith on April 19, Easter Sunday, 1944. She grew up in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin where her father was a Lutheran teacher and met her husband, Allen, at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. They were married on August 21, 1965, in Beloit, Wisconsin. After they were married they served in Lutheran Schools in Hankinson, North Dakota (3 years) and Battle Creek, Nebraska (10 years). Then they managed a 500 sow feeder pig unit in Genoa, Nebraska, for eight years. They returned to teaching for five years in St. Johns, Michigan. Then Allen went to the seminary and on May 1, 1994, became an ordained minister. They served churches in Baldwin, Michigan (5 years) and Birnamwood, Wisconsin (8 years). They retired near the Bolivar landing on Pomme de Terre Lake ten years ago and helped out at a number of churches in the area, mainly Trinity, Freistatt. Mary was a stay-at-home mother until the children went to school, but then worked as a seamstress and in the schools and churches where Al was a teacher and pastor. She enjoyed her special friend, Gabe, gardenening, sewing, crafting, taking pictures, visiting folks, and working with the ladies at Zion Lutheran Church in Bolivar; where Al and Mary were members. She was always "about family". Allen and Mary had three daughters: Rochelle married to Sam Rodriguez, of Columbus, Nebraska, children Cody and Morgan Burke; Deborah married to Steve Ritter, of Kitchener, Ontario; and Rebecca married to Gerrad Edwards, children Logan' and Leighton of Johnson, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her brother, John, and her father. Those she has gone ahead of: her husband Al, her daughters and grandchildren, her mother, brother Paul and his family, of Rochester, Minnesota, and many relatives and friends .. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" A memorial service will be held in spring. Any memorials to Springfield Lutheran School or Trinity Lutheran School of Freistatt, Missouri, or a church of your choice, would be appreciated. No flowers, please. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mary Elizabeth Geil

March 21, 1944 - December 9, 2016