Joseph Geier

Joseph Geier, 99, of Minneapolis, MN, formerly of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Gracewood Living Center, Lino Lakes, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Edward Pierce officiating.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, August 24, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel with a 7 p.m. liturgical wake and rosary.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow Mass at the parish hall. Burial with Military Honors will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery following the luncheon.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Joseph Geier was born on February 29th, 1924, to Adam and Theresa (Heinz) Geier in Roscoe, South Dakota. Joe spent the first 20 years of his life attending school and working long hours on the family farm. Joe’s childhood was all about hard work with little playtime and the work ethic he learned on the family farm stayed with him his entire life. 

In January of 1945, Joe entered the United States Army and trained as a tank crew member during basic training as preparation to be sent to the European theater of war.  When Germany surrendered in May of 1945, Joe was reassigned to infantry, and he shipped out to Saipan, Mariana Islands in South Pacific Theater. After Japan surrendered in September of 1945, Joe then deployed to Guam where he spent the remainder of his time in the service. In January of 1947, Joe was discharged from the Army and headed back home to South Dakota. Joe attended one semester at Northern State College in Aberdeen before deciding that he would prefer to go back into the workforce full-time.

Joe began dating Gloria Ulmer, a young woman from Hosmer, SD whom he had known before he left for the Army. They were married on September 20th, 1948. From 1947 to 1950, Joe worked various jobs including construction and auto mechanic. Joe and Gloria lived in Huron, SD for a short period during this time as well. In 1950 Joe decided he wanted to become a barber, so he and Gloria packed up and moved to Fargo, ND so Joe could attend Barber Collage. He received his barber degree in 1951 and they headed back to Aberdeen where Joe began his 45-year career as a barber. Joe worked as a barber until 1996 when he retired at the age of 72.

Joe supplemented his barber income throughout most of his working life doing carpentry work for hire on the side or on his own properties which he fixed up for rental income or to resell. In fact, in his early 70s, Joe single-handedly shingled the very steep roof of his 3-story barber shop/apartment building himself using a logging chain around his waist as his “safety harness”.  He initially tried to hire a professional roofer, but all roofing contractors he asked for a bid from would not even bid on the job because they said the roof was too steep and dangerous for them to shingle. 

Joe and Gloria both loved to dance, and it was not unusual for them to put a polka record on at home and dance the polka in the living room on a Sunday afternoon. Joe and Gloria enjoyed attending summer Polka Fests in and across the area. Playing bridge was also a favorite pastime and most Saturday nights were spent with friends playing bridge. Joe was a devout catholic and a member of St Mary’s Catholic Church since 1948. Joe was a member of the Moose Lodge, American Legion, and VFW.  Joe was a past member of the South Dakota Barbers Association.

Joe is survived by his four children: Tim (Jean) Geier of Lakewood, Colorado, Gail (Frank) LoCascio of Boca Raton, FL, Kris (Blake) Rehfeld of Minneapolis, MN and Dan (Brenda) Geier of Naples, FL; ten grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; four sisters; two grandchildren in infancy; and his beloved wife, Gloria. 

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