Leon E. "Gene" Geiss

August 3, 1927 - November 20, 1927

Age 85, of Wilmington, IL passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at Presence St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, IL. Born August 3, 1927 in Symerton, IL to the late Leone and Ellen (nee Dixon) Geiss. Gene farmed in the rural Wilmington/ Florence Township area for all of his life, until he retired in 2008. He is a veteran of the United States Army having served in Korea from March 1954 to January 1956. Before and after his service he was employed by the U.S. Rubber Company. He was a member of the VFW Post #5422 in Wilmington, Will County Farm Bureau and the Will County Threshermen’s Association. Gene had a passion for farming and was an avid collector of antique Farmall tractors. Surviving are his wife, Lois (nee Erickson) Geiss of Wilmington, whom he married March 28, 1965 in Joliet; one daughter, Lois “Bunny” Hemphill of Elwood, IL; two grandchildren, Jayson (Kristina) Hemphill of Woodstock, IL and Rayna (Timothy) Brophy of Joliet; three great-grandchildren, Taylar Grace, Braden Eugene and Daniel Brophy; two brothers, Laverne (the late Jewellane) Geiss of Peotone, IL and Donald (Adella) Geiss of Wilmington; three sisters-in-law, Margaret, Norma, and Freida Geiss, all of Wilmington; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were four brothers, Calvin, Ervin (Rose), Orville, and Merle Geiss. Funeral services will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd. & Crematory, Braidwood Chapel, Monday, November 26, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Interment with military honors will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood. Visitation Sunday, November 25 from 2-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name to the VFW Post #5422: 557 W. Baltimore St., Wilmington, IL 60481 or the Will County Threshermen’s Association: 1100 Tracy Drive, Morris, IL 60450 would be appreciated.