William E. "Bill" Geiger, Sr.

BRIGGSVILLE/PORTAGE  --  William E. “Bill” Geiger, Sr., age 87, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2016, at Divine Savior Healthcare hospital in Portage.

Bill was born on February 8, 1928, in Antigo, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Strasser) Geiger.  He served his country in the United States Army serving in Saipan following WWII.  Bill married Helen “Marie” Cleary on September 17, 1949.  He had worked at A. O. Smith in Milwaukee for over 30 years.  He was a longtime resident of Menomonee Falls and after retirement moved to Briggsville, where he was very active in the Briggsville American Legion.  He was an avid card player and loved gardening, fishing and hunting.  Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.    

He is survived by his children, William Earl (Carol) Geiger, Jr., and Barbara (John) Foss; his son-in-law, Al Dreyer; his grandchildren, Terry (Andrea) Perschbacher, Joshua Dreyer, Ashley (Rich) Nielsen and Erika (Brandon) Yahn; his great-grandchildren, Emily and Nathan Perschbacher and Jeremiah and Harlan Nielsen; his siblings, Arthur Geiger, Lyle Geiger, Gerald Geiger and Lorraine Fondow; other relatives and many close friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marie, his daughter, Debra Dreyer, his siblings, Henry Geiger, Charles Geiger, June Ryan, Ernest Geiger, Rene Machmueller, Edwin Geiger, Milton Geiger, and an infant sister.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Briggsville with Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl presiding.  Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery with Military Honors by Briggsville area veterans.  Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., on Monday, February 1, 2016 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and on Tuesday, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.