Raymond W. Geiger

Raymond W. Geiger, 89, passed away Monday, July 1, 2024 at Kearney Regional Medical Center. He was born December 7, 1934 in Eustis, Nebraska to Robert and Martha (Kleinknecht) Geiger.

 Raymond’s family moved from Eustis to rural Cozad in 1938, where they established themselves for years to come among the many “South Siders” who called the area south of the Platte River home. It is here that Raymond’s love for agriculture began to blossom.

Following his graduation from Cozad High School in 1952, Raymond furthered his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He graduated in May of 1956 with degrees in accounting and business administration. During his time at UNL, Raymond was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also served in the Army ROTC where he achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Raymond’s work career began in June of 1956 with Bendix Aviation as a traveling internal corporate auditor. Eventually, he was promoted to senior auditor. Raymond enjoyed roughly four years with Bendix and made many memories and lifelong friends along the way. Following his stint at Bendix, Raymond’s career moves included chief accountant with Central Packing Company of Kansas City, MO, traveling auditor with Interstate Finance Company and treasurer of the commercial trucking firm Colorado Cartage Company in Denver, CO. Prior to his time at Colorado Cartage, the foundation was being laid for Raymond to put his growing, but yet untested, business savvy to use.

In the early 1960’s, Raymond was given the opportunity to own and manage a couple of satellite franchise H & R Block tax offices in Roswell and Carlsbad, NM. He lept at the chance and immersed himself in outfitting the office locations and hiring and training staff for tax preparation and office management. Raymond made Roswell his home for a short time and was blessed with the likes of Oma Ruth O’Rear and Frank Shelton who assisted in keeping both locations running smoothly.

Tax season lasted only part of the year and the H & R Block offices were closed during the off-season. While the offices were closed they required only limited management. Raymond occupied those times by helping out with his father Robert’s farm enterprise in Cozad. The old adage “you can take the boy off the farm, but you can never take the farm out of the boy” rang true with ‘ol Ray. While at home in Cozad during the summer and fall of 1964, another gem of an opportunity presented itself. He was offered the opportunity to rent his first farm from Olga Sheldon. He eagerly accepted. In the fall of 1966, he purchased his first two quarters of ground northwest of Elwood, NE. These quarters consisted of 2/3 dryland farm ground and 1/3 pasture. Soon after, two wells were drilled on the dryland farms and irrigation practices were incorporated. Working on a shoestring budget and operating with old equipment pulled from his father’s windbreak, Raymond said in his own words at the time, “Then I was a farmer, alternating between farming and the tax business.” Passion, insight, experience and a calculating mind propelled Raymond into a successful farmer and businessman, a status he enjoyed well into his late 80s. He was once referred to by an admiring family member as “a farmer with a tractor steering wheel in one hand and the Wall Street Journal in the other.”

Raymond’s success in life wasn’t solely measured by a balance sheet. On June 1st, 1968, he married Carolyn Waters Gealy, at which time he became a step-father to her young sons, Steve and Mark Gealy. The couple welcomed a son of their own, Jon Geiger, in late 1969. Raymond served as a role model and inspiration to all three boys and their families to the very end of his life. Carolyn passed away in July, 1988.

On August 25th, 1990, Raymond married Judith Roberts (Monaghan). The couple enjoyed over 33 wonderful years together through which Ray experienced some of the happiest times of his life. It was during these years that Raymond modified his day-to-day involvement with his farm operation to make room for “the good life”. He pursued his passion of sailing. He raced his Santana 23 sailboat in various regattas and crewed various yachts from the mainland US to the Caribbean Islands. In addition to racing his sailboat, Raymond fed his competitive spirit by playing tennis alongside friends in the Cozad and Lexington areas. He was also a member of the Goldenrod Car Club. He took time to capture his parents’ journey to America from Germany, along with his family’s story in his written work “Voyage to the American Dream: The Long and Challenging Journey of Robert and Martha Geiger”. Travel was another of Raymond’s passions. He and Judith visited many destinations both home and abroad, including Germany, Ireland, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Virgin Islands, Canada and Mexico. Judith was there with Raymond in his final moments as he sailed off into a glorious and peaceful sunset.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Otto and Edwin, a sister Rose Ann Paslay and her husband Michael Paslay, and brother-in-law Pat Monaghan.

Raymond is survived by his wife Judith, son Jon (Julie) Geiger of Cozad, grandson Landry Geiger of Lincoln, brother Robert (Colleen) Geiger, Jr of Thurman, Iowa, sister-in-law Marlene Geiger of Cozad, sister-in-law Trudy Geiger of Cozad, stepson Steve (Kathy) Gealy of Lincoln, stepson Mark Gealy (Diane Wolter) of Fargo, North Dakota, stepdaughter Debra (Ty) Noyes of Lincoln, stepdaughter Lisa (Matt) Hunke of Cozad, stepson J.P. (Jenna) Roberts of Johnson Lake, several nieces, nephews, step grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Services will be held Monday, July 8, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jill Boyd officiating. Burial will follow at Cozad Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.