Steven Lawrence Geyer

Somewhere up in heaven, a very loved father is having a laugh at his own clever obituary. Steven Lawrence Geyer, 76, passed away on Sunday, January 14 and his three daughters found the best way to remember their late father ― with a healthy dose of humor.

Steven’s daughters say they couldn’t think of a more fitting sendoff for their father than to write a grand-slam obituary (Go Cubs Go!), honoring his sense of humor. Steven himself was a fan of sharing dad jokes as he was the self-proclaimed “Dad Joke Champion” after all.

He was preceded to heaven by his father Roy Geyer and mother Genevieve Geyer, his sister Nancy Geyer, and his beloved Mother-in-Law Armella “Mel” Morys. He is survived by his wife Nancy Morys-Geyer and their daughter Rachel Nicole Penny (Michael Penny); his former wife Marilyn Johnson Meyer and mother of his children Natalie Mathieu (Chet Mathieu) and Brenda D’Amore (Michael D’Amore); Six Grandchildren: Noah Geyer “Nozameister”, Carson Lawrence Mathieu “Bubba”, Megan Mathieu “Megalopolis”, Gunner D’Amore “Mr. Gunner”, Hunter D’Amore “Big Hunt”, and his “little buddy” Cooper Steven Penny; and his dear sisters Barbara Geyer and Christine Guanci (Jerry Guanci).

Steven was a deeply loved father, husband, son, brother, businessman, and friend. His passing was sudden and unexpected but quick, just like he always hoped it would be.

Steven attended Chicago Public Elementary School from 1952-1959. He was a patrol boy who helped all the little kids cross the street and he played the bugle for his school assemblies. In 1959, he moved to Des Plaines, Illinois and attended Maine East Jr. High and then Maine East High School. In his words, he “was a pretty good athlete”. He played football, baseball, wrestling, volleyball, and track and field. He would be disappointed if we didn’t include that he wrestled at 165 lbs. and the only person that could beat him was the super heavyweight (225 lbs.) on the wrestling team. He would say that he was so good because his dad got him a weight lifting set when he was 11 and at 15 years old he could press and curl his body weight (160 lbs.). Alright, “that’s enough bragging” as he would say… Steven graduated from high school in 1965 and then went on to attend Chicago City Jr. College for two years. He then claimed that after two years he was transferring to DePaul University but his records were “lost”. Maybe that was fate because he was then drafted into the Army. He was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield just outside of Savannah, Georgia. He spent twelve weeks in training to be a cook and was later assigned to the Officers Club and trained under a chef from Europe. A story that sticks out from this time in his life is when he had to plan and cook for his General’s daughters wedding of 280 guests, including Governor Jimmy Carter. Then in January of 1967, he was ordered overseas to Vietnam. He was awarded several medals of valor for serving in the combat zone.

In 1989, Steven married his “special someone", his wife, Nancy Morys-Geyer, in a beautiful ceremony at Ridgemoor Country Club in Chicago, Illinois. Together, they built a life filled with love, lots of laughter, and the joyous hustle and bustle of raising their children.

One of our Father’s proudest accomplishments in his lifetime was PinMart, Inc. In 1999, Creative House branded PinMart and developed the first of its kind e-commerce website selling lapel pins via the then promising internet. By 2002, the PinMart brand outgrew its competitors and its parent company Creative House. In 2008, PinMart acquired Creative House and today PinMart, Inc. sells direct to consumers via its online store and through distributors under the Creative House line name. The online store, www.pinmart.com, was first opened for business in October 1999 with 42 stock lapel pins and utilized five different styles of custom lapel pin processes to make special order pins. Since then PinMart has added thousands of new products and many new product lines. Today PinMart’s online business has grown significantly and is now the internet's number one provider of lapel pins, emblems, lanyards, and recognition items.

While we lost our most beloved dad, many have lost a friend and loved one in him. He has been a rock to many, a master at sarcastic humor and witty timing to others, and even a glorious pain in the neck, to what we’re sure is a small select few (because no matter what happened between you in your lives, once you were marked as important to him, he'd be by your side if you needed him). There was so much more to him than just dad, though to us that was his greatest role - he was also the self-proclaimed “Pope of the Pond'', the “Pin Man'', Mr. Fix It, “Doctor Google”, Claw Machine Champion, the list goes on and on…

Steven Lawrence Anthony Geyer will be remembered as a loving father, husband, Papa, Grandpa, brother, businessman, and friend. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the Geyer family kindly requests donations be made to the American Heart Association, in Steven’s honor.

We invite you all to share pictures (“a picture is worth a thousand words”) or memories. It was his wish that we laugh and reminisce, and smile together during this time.

Here are some of our father’s favorite dad jokes or as he would say “The following is a list of my favorite dad jokes for your reading pleasure! LOL”:

What did one wall say to the other?

I’ll meet you at the corner.

Dad, did you get a haircut?

No, I got them all cut!

Dad, can you put my shoes on?

No, I don’t think they’ll fit me.

Lastly, always remember to give double arm hugs!