Funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN with Rev. John Bumgardner and Rev. David Laue co-officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, rural St. Hilaire, MN.
Visitation will be at St. John Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 5-8 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Friday at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls.
Arnold Wayne Geske was born April 18, 1945 in Thief River Falls, MN in a blizzard. He was the son of John and Edna (Koop) Geske. He was raised on the family farm in Rocksbury Township. He attended Washington Elementary and Lincoln High School. He graduated from Lincoln in 1963.
Arnold was married to Linda Bursheim on June 17, 1967 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in McIntosh, MN. The couple made their home in the Thief River Falls area and to this union three sons were born, John, Michael and Jeffrey. He was employed by Maves Standard; Hartz Warehouse; and spent the last 47 years at St. Hilaire Co-op Elevator, Northwest Grain, and CHS Ag Services.
Arnold was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN. He had also been a member at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Radium, MN and for the past several years was a member at St. John Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. In all of the congregations, he was very active in various leadership roles and most recently as an Elder of the congregation. He was also very committed to the ministry of the Orphan Grain Train and Lutheran Laymen’s League ~ Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Arnold loved people and his community. He was influential in starting a neighborhood block party that he has been leading for over thirty years. Arnold looked after his neighborhood to always be sure it was well manicured. He was affectionately known as “The Mayor of Maple.”
The family would like to thank all of his family, friends, and fellow workers for their friendship to Arnie. A special thank you to nephew, Gary Geske. After raising three sons, Arnold took great joy in having his daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arnold is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, his daughter-in-law Laura Geske, grandchildren Joshua and Joy Geske, nephew Brian Geske, brother Harold Geske, and sister-in-law Agnes Geske.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 49 years Linda of Thief River Falls; children John and Melanie Geske of Becker, MN, Michael Geske of Thief River Falls, MN, Rev. Jeffrey and Patricia Geske of Topeka, KS; his grandchildren Cory Geske, Jordan Carr, Noah Moody, Ashley and Klint Mahne, Bethany Geske, Kurtis Geske, Jacob Geske; and great-grandchildren Jason Geske and Sklyer Carr; sister Elaine and Donald Laursen and Brother Leonard and Margaret Geske of Thief River Falls, MN, and several nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
Special Music, Todd & Jen Wieland
Pallbearers, Gary Geske, Myles Koop, Dale Koop, Terry Timm, Al Melbye, Anthony (Chuck) Flage, Cory Geske, Jordan Carr, Noah Moody, Kurtis Geske
Honorary Pall Bearers, St. John Lutheran Church Men’s Club
Memorials: St. John Lutheran Church ~ Red Lake Falls, MN, Lutheran Laymen’s League ~ Lutheran Hour Ministries, & Orphan Grain Train.