Roger Geison

Roger Allan Geison, age 68, of Savanna, Illinois passed away October 24, 2014 at St. Anthony’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Rock Island, Illinois after an extended illness, with family members by his side. He was born in Morrison, Illinois, 1945, the son of Homer and Phyllis Geison, formerly of Savanna.
He graduated from Savanna Community High School in 1963 as Valedictorian. He earned a Bachelors in Philosophy and Chemistry at Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin; graduating Magna Cum Laude. He was a member of Phi Betta Kappa National Honor Society at Beloit College. He also earned a Masters in History at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. He later earned a Masters in Philosophy at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.
He taught Chemistry and Biology at Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois for a year. Then he taught Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics at Delavan High School, Delavan, Illinois. Later he was an Instructor of Philosophy at Scott Community College, Bettendorf, Iowa for eighteen years.
His interests included humor, music and reading. He also liked baseball especially the Chicago Cubs. One of his favorite places was Wrigley Field. He also enjoyed pop culture.
He was a very conscientious teacher and was well liked by his students. He loved his family, friends, and children, and was close to all of his nieces and nephews and siblings. Two of his special lifelong friends were Jack Ross and Woody Larsen. He had a fun side and could be very witty.
In his younger years, many people would often remark: “Roger was on of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life.”
The family would like to thank everyone who took care of him at St. Anthony’s and also Heartland Hospice.
A gathering is being planned for friends and family at a later date in his hometown of Savanna, to honor his life and to celebrate his contribution to education in spite of his many health issues. Memorials may be made to support Neurological Research: Department of Neurology/Giving neurology.ucsf.edu/giving for information on donations. Condolences may be expressed at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com .
Those left to honor his memory include his sisters, Carmie Kellogg of Rockford, Illinois, Rita Huizenga of Rock Island; his brothers, Stan (Martha) Geison of Bloomington, Illinois, and Gordon (Judy) Geison of San Francisco, California. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Gerry and his beloved nephew, Jade Huizenga.