Evelyn Jean Geiger

A lifelong resident of the community she loved, Evelyn Geiger was a blessing in the lives of everyone she met. She lived to love and serve others whether her family, her friends, or those within her community through the compassionate care she provided through her work. Evelyn was blessed to share the best years of her life with her true love, and she was filled with unspeakable joy to witness her family tree blossom to include the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandson who made her so very proud. Life will never be the same without her here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in generosity, compassion, and unconditional love that her family will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

It was great to be an American during the decade that is recalled as the Roaring Twenties, but the 1930s were a much different story as the days were cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, the unemployment rate soared, and the days became even more strained when a drought covered our nations heartland for nearly two years during this time. Despite the trials around them, William Fredrick and Alta Leoa (Downing) Breisch were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their own lives as they welcomed a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on October 21, 1934, in Columbia City, Indiana. Evelyn Jean was one of six Breisch children to be raised on the family farm just off State Road 205 to the South of Columbia City as she was joined in her family by her brothers, William, Paul, and Carl, and her sisters, Marjorie and Joan.

In many ways, Evelyn was a young girl of her generation. Although they felt the strain of the Great Depression, the family farm provided her family with animals and vegetables that her father was able to use to barter for other necessities. Evelyn enjoyed playing with her siblings, and she and her father made it a practice to go out and a dig up the dandelions in early April. Before the dandelions flowered, they were able to eat the green leaves, and once the yellow flower appeared Evelyn learned to fry the flower up so they could eat them.

New and exciting changes were in store for Evelyn when she met the young man of her dreams. His name Cliffton Geiger, and she noticed him while he was walking down the street one fateful day. Evelyn was smitten, and she even pointed him out to her friends as the guy she was going to marry. They eventually met, and after falling deeply in love they were married on March 7, 1951. Evelyn then moved from Columbia City to Noble County. Interestingly, Cliffton had two brothers who married Evelyns two sisters! She and Cliffton were blessed with the births of three children, Ed, Laura, and Joni.

Over the years there was nothing that was of greater importance to Evelyn than her family. She and Cliffton shared a love for fishing, and they did so often. They also took their family fishing as well as mushroom hunting, which were traditions that they carried on once their grandchildren, Jerrod, John Jr., Yvonne, Barbara, and Justin came along. Twice a year they all took a vacation together to go fishing and mushroom hunting. Evelyn loved cooking for her family and her friends as well, and anyone who came to her home was always well fed. Even if someone had already eaten, Evelyn got busy fixing something for them. Evelyns apple dumplings, pumpkin pies, peanut butter balls, peanut brittle, and homemade noodles were among her specialties. She also regularly made Cliffton his favorite custard pie, and of course her cooked dandelions were also a tradition. Evelyn always said that if someone left her house hungry, it was their own fault!

In addition to caring for her family, Evelyn kept busy in other ways. She proudly earned her GED in 1985, and she also worked outside of the home. Evelyn spent 18 years working for Fiber Form and then another 22 years at Alcoils before retiring in 1992. She loved spending time out in her flower garden as well as picking both strawberries and blueberries. Evelyn enjoyed playing cards with Pinochle and Aggravation being among her favorite games. For years she was a member of Blue River Community Church, the American Legion Auxiliary, and VFW Auxiliary in Columbia City.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1987, Evelyns world was drastically changed as her beloved Cliffton passed away. She had devoted her days to caring for him in their home prior to his death, and this experience awakened something within Evelyn. She recognized a great need that she felt called to fulfill in caring for others in their home as their health declined. After retiring in 1992, Evelyn became a caregiver to others in their home, providing them with the nurturing and hands on care that their health required. She gave everyone her all, and the care she provided was always deeply rooted in her compassionate and unconditional love. Eventually, Evelyn hired others to help her provide this service to those in need. She set her standards high, and she did not shy away from replacing those whose work was not up to her par.

Over the years Evelyns own health began to decline, and her family took great care in providing her with the same tender loving care that she had so selflessly given to others for years.

When reflecting on the life of Evelyn Geiger, it is easy to see that she was a true servant to all who were within her reach. She lived to love and care for others, and she did so without condition or expecting anything in return. Evelyn treasured her role as a wife and mother, but she just might have argued that nothing was sweeter than welcoming grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson into the family. Truly beautiful on the inside and out, Evelyn will be forever missed.

Evelyn Jean Geiger, of Albion, Indiana, passed away at 11:27 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016, at her home. Evelyns family includes her son, Ed Geiger of Albion; daughters, Laura (John Sr.) Ross of Columbia City and Joni (Mark, Jr.) Jones of Albion; five grandchildren, Jerrod (Donna) Geiger, John (Terrie) Ross, Jr., Yvonne Geiger, Barbara Parrett and Justin (Samantha) Tipton; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cliffton Geiger; brothers, William, Paul and Carl Breisch; and sisters, Marjorie Lock and Joan Reavis.

Visitation is Tuesday, May 17, 2016, from 4-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Pastor Steve Briggs officiating. She will be buried down the road from her house next to her husband at Thorn Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Geigers memory to Heartland Hospice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.