1943
George William Geesey
2024
George William Geesey
February 3, 1943 — March 16, 2024
Garden City, Missouri
George Geesey died at the age of 81 on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Kansas City. He was the loving husband of Barbara and loving father to George and Donna.
George was born in February 1941, the oldest child of George and Ada in Idaho. His parents were ministers and they often moved from pastorate to pastorate in Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona during George’s early childhood.
When he was 10 years old, the biggest adventure of his childhood began. His parents became missionaries to Alaska. They moved to Cordova, a tiny town on the Gulf of Alaska. It was like moving into the wild west for a small boy—and it was that scary as well. Bullying didn’t mean that he was picked on by small boys his own age—it meant that he was picked on by 17 and 18 year olds who were nearly man-sized. Many times he thought that he was going to meet his maker then and there.
But there were tremendous escapades as well—he would join his father on fishing adventures that took them out into the Gulf of Alaska battling waves as tall as buildings. He later told hair raising stories of how they were being pulled further out to sea, but then found that they were miraculously turned in the right direction and headed back to land.
They lived in Cordova for three years and then moved to Seward. The adventures continued as George and his gang of friends challenged each other to do crazy acts of daring do on Resurrection Bay, leading to tongue lashings from the seasoned fisherman of the community. Fifty years later, George met up with his dear friend Harold (and victim of one of his more atrocious dares). The first words out of Harold’s mouth were “You nearly killed me!” George admitted that he still had nightmares about some of their crazier escapades as well!
George’s family continued to move around Alaska while George grew up. His siblings had joined his family—Dowain, Nathan, Archie, Sonya, and Julie. During a season, he lived with his uncle and aunt, Gene and Norma, in Arizona. The bullying of his childhood had created an angry and bitter young man. While he lived with Gene and Norma, he surrendered his heart to God and became a Christian. He didn’t become perfect, but God healed so much of the pain of his childhood.
When he was in his late teens, he decided to go to West Coast Bible College, a Church of God school in California. While he was there, he was part of the student ministry group called Pioneers for Christ (“PFC”). He worked to get a rickity van that he would cram with students and then haul them up and down the valley of California to minister in communities near and far. One day a police officer pulled George over, saw the rickety van full of 20 year olds, and realized that they were about to traverse over a narrow, winding road. He read George the riot act and told him that if he couldn’t stop that van, using only his air breaks, he was pulling the registration for the van. George listened carefully, and passed the officer’s test flawlessly the first time. Multiple times over the next few years, that police officers lesson saved countless lives.
George felt that God was calling him to go to Lee University (then a College) in Cleveland, TN, another Church of God school, to finish his Bachelor’s of Christian Education degree. That was where he saw a raven haired, brown eyed girl named Barbara from North Carolina. He had noticed her at a large PFC meeting in Texas a few years before while he was still at West Coast. He figured out her class schedule, made a few tweaks to his own schedule, and then made sure that he sat next to her during class. They began dating, kissing under each and every street light that they came to. Graduation was followed by their marriage in July 1968.
George and Barbara came to Kansas City after their marriage. They began pastoring Mt. Washington Church of God. Barbara taught fifth grade until the birth of their first born, George in 1970. Donna came along in 1973, and their family of four continued to minister at Mt. Washington until 1976. At that point, George changed focus to education. He began to work with Christian schools and day cares. This would be his focus for the next 15 years. He poured his life into kids at day cares and schools at various Assembly of God churches throughout the KC metro.
But there were two kids that were his favorites—George and Donna. The joy of his life was pouring his love and attention into his kiddos. Whatever they were into became his new favorite thing—hearing (in excruciating detail) the latest book that Donna was reading, basketball games with George, piano lessons for both kids, plays, Bible Quiz, marching band events, loud concerts—whatever George and Donna were into, that’s what he was into!
Food was one of George’s love languages—monster-shaped pancakes, burritos, Navaho Fry Bread, pizza, venison chimichangas—George loved to create food that his family would share together at the family table while talking and talking and talking and ……. And speaking of venison, he loved tromping into the woods every fall to deer hunt. It was something he looked forward to every year. Some years he’d get a deer, others he didn’t, but it was the act of going into the woods and sitting in the midst of creation. He absolutely adored it.
In 1996, George and Barbara went to church one Sunday and their pastor asked them to fill in for the following two Sundays at this tiny church called Bethel Assembly in Garden City, MO. George and Barbara agreed and they filled in for the next two weeks. On the morning of the third Sunday, they were getting ready for church when a call came in. “Where are you at?” George smiled and said “Spread the word. We’ll be back next Sunday!” They pastored there for over 25 years. George loved being a full-time pastor again. Sunday after church dinners, awesome kids programs on Wednesday night, and countless community events. After he’d been there for about 10 years, his dear friend Gene Kirkpatrick told him that he knew of a source for day old bread. Thus began his greatest ministry—the weekly bread give away. It was so much more than giving away bread. It was loving on people. The bread was important, but building relationship and loving people was where it was at for George.
During the course of the bread giveaway, he became even more aware of the homeless in Garden City. Soon he began Destiny House, a weekly service for those who were battling drug and alcohol addiction. This became the center of his heart as he poured love into those who were the most hurting and wounded in the community.
It had come full circle. A scared, wounded, hurting boy met Jesus while he was with his aunt and uncle in Arizona. That man introduced Jesus to scared, wounded, hurting people in Garden City, MO. It was a life well lived…and he was loved.
George was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother Dowain, many aunts and uncles, and his niece Marie. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, his children George and Donna, his daughter-in-law Karen, his sister-in law Janelle, his siblings Nathan, Archie, Sonya, and Julie, nieces and nephews, and so many cousins. He adored family and each and every one he dearly loved.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Harvesters - The Community Food Network.
Visitation will be 10AM, with services to follow at 10:45AM, Thursday, March 21 at Heart of Life Church, 96 Old Hwy 7, Garden City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.
George was born in February 1941, the oldest child of George and Ada in Idaho. His parents were ministers and they often moved from pastorate to pastorate in Idaho, Oregon, and Arizona during George’s early childhood.
When he was 10 years old, the biggest adventure of his childhood began. His parents became missionaries to Alaska. They moved to Cordova, a tiny town on the Gulf of Alaska. It was like moving into the wild west for a small boy—and it was that scary as well. Bullying didn’t mean that he was picked on by small boys his own age—it meant that he was picked on by 17 and 18 year olds who were nearly man-sized. Many times he thought that he was going to meet his maker then and there.
But there were tremendous escapades as well—he would join his father on fishing adventures that took them out into the Gulf of Alaska battling waves as tall as buildings. He later told hair raising stories of how they were being pulled further out to sea, but then found that they were miraculously turned in the right direction and headed back to land.
They lived in Cordova for three years and then moved to Seward. The adventures continued as George and his gang of friends challenged each other to do crazy acts of daring do on Resurrection Bay, leading to tongue lashings from the seasoned fisherman of the community. Fifty years later, George met up with his dear friend Harold (and victim of one of his more atrocious dares). The first words out of Harold’s mouth were “You nearly killed me!” George admitted that he still had nightmares about some of their crazier escapades as well!
George’s family continued to move around Alaska while George grew up. His siblings had joined his family—Dowain, Nathan, Archie, Sonya, and Julie. During a season, he lived with his uncle and aunt, Gene and Norma, in Arizona. The bullying of his childhood had created an angry and bitter young man. While he lived with Gene and Norma, he surrendered his heart to God and became a Christian. He didn’t become perfect, but God healed so much of the pain of his childhood.
When he was in his late teens, he decided to go to West Coast Bible College, a Church of God school in California. While he was there, he was part of the student ministry group called Pioneers for Christ (“PFC”). He worked to get a rickity van that he would cram with students and then haul them up and down the valley of California to minister in communities near and far. One day a police officer pulled George over, saw the rickety van full of 20 year olds, and realized that they were about to traverse over a narrow, winding road. He read George the riot act and told him that if he couldn’t stop that van, using only his air breaks, he was pulling the registration for the van. George listened carefully, and passed the officer’s test flawlessly the first time. Multiple times over the next few years, that police officers lesson saved countless lives.
George felt that God was calling him to go to Lee University (then a College) in Cleveland, TN, another Church of God school, to finish his Bachelor’s of Christian Education degree. That was where he saw a raven haired, brown eyed girl named Barbara from North Carolina. He had noticed her at a large PFC meeting in Texas a few years before while he was still at West Coast. He figured out her class schedule, made a few tweaks to his own schedule, and then made sure that he sat next to her during class. They began dating, kissing under each and every street light that they came to. Graduation was followed by their marriage in July 1968.
George and Barbara came to Kansas City after their marriage. They began pastoring Mt. Washington Church of God. Barbara taught fifth grade until the birth of their first born, George in 1970. Donna came along in 1973, and their family of four continued to minister at Mt. Washington until 1976. At that point, George changed focus to education. He began to work with Christian schools and day cares. This would be his focus for the next 15 years. He poured his life into kids at day cares and schools at various Assembly of God churches throughout the KC metro.
But there were two kids that were his favorites—George and Donna. The joy of his life was pouring his love and attention into his kiddos. Whatever they were into became his new favorite thing—hearing (in excruciating detail) the latest book that Donna was reading, basketball games with George, piano lessons for both kids, plays, Bible Quiz, marching band events, loud concerts—whatever George and Donna were into, that’s what he was into!
Food was one of George’s love languages—monster-shaped pancakes, burritos, Navaho Fry Bread, pizza, venison chimichangas—George loved to create food that his family would share together at the family table while talking and talking and talking and ……. And speaking of venison, he loved tromping into the woods every fall to deer hunt. It was something he looked forward to every year. Some years he’d get a deer, others he didn’t, but it was the act of going into the woods and sitting in the midst of creation. He absolutely adored it.
In 1996, George and Barbara went to church one Sunday and their pastor asked them to fill in for the following two Sundays at this tiny church called Bethel Assembly in Garden City, MO. George and Barbara agreed and they filled in for the next two weeks. On the morning of the third Sunday, they were getting ready for church when a call came in. “Where are you at?” George smiled and said “Spread the word. We’ll be back next Sunday!” They pastored there for over 25 years. George loved being a full-time pastor again. Sunday after church dinners, awesome kids programs on Wednesday night, and countless community events. After he’d been there for about 10 years, his dear friend Gene Kirkpatrick told him that he knew of a source for day old bread. Thus began his greatest ministry—the weekly bread give away. It was so much more than giving away bread. It was loving on people. The bread was important, but building relationship and loving people was where it was at for George.
During the course of the bread giveaway, he became even more aware of the homeless in Garden City. Soon he began Destiny House, a weekly service for those who were battling drug and alcohol addiction. This became the center of his heart as he poured love into those who were the most hurting and wounded in the community.
It had come full circle. A scared, wounded, hurting boy met Jesus while he was with his aunt and uncle in Arizona. That man introduced Jesus to scared, wounded, hurting people in Garden City, MO. It was a life well lived…and he was loved.
George was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother Dowain, many aunts and uncles, and his niece Marie. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara, his children George and Donna, his daughter-in-law Karen, his sister-in law Janelle, his siblings Nathan, Archie, Sonya, and Julie, nieces and nephews, and so many cousins. He adored family and each and every one he dearly loved.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Harvesters - The Community Food Network.
Visitation will be 10AM, with services to follow at 10:45AM, Thursday, March 21 at Heart of Life Church, 96 Old Hwy 7, Garden City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, March 21, 2024
10:00 - 10:45 am (Central time)
Heart of Life Church- Garden City Campus
Funeral Service
Thursday, March 21, 2024
10:45 - 11:45 am (Central time)
Heart of Life Church- Garden City Campus
Burial
Thursday, March 21, 2024
2:30 - 2:45 pm (Central time)
Memorial Park And Green Lawn
Guestbook
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