Dale Michael Geiss, MD

It was a bitterly cold and snowy Spring day in Mandan, North Dakota. Lawrence and Clara Geiss were on their way to the hospital to deliver their second son, Dale. But Dale couldn’t wait. As the family story goes, he was born on the front seat of a model T Ford.

Life was never easy for the Geiss family. Mom and Dad each came from farm families of eleven children. They set out to farm for themselves, but drought stole that dream. In a home- built trailer (not an RV!) they headed for Fargo, camping along the river bank. After finding jobs, they bought a bare bones house. No running water, no toilet, no bath. Dale and his brother had to lug buckets down the street, to buy water from a neighbor.

Dale proved to be an excellent student and was chosen to enter the Catholic seminary at the age of 14. At St John’s he finished high school and two years of college.

Fast forward: A degree from the North Dakota State University, then graduate work in Neuropsychology. To support his family, he sold smoke detectors door to door, with many slammed in his face.

Medical school became the new mission, but it required courses at three different Chicago universities to earn the right credits. He received his MD from Baylor University in Texas, and thought he’d return home and simply become a country doctor.

Instead he completed surgical residencies in California, Wisconsin, and Toronto. It took eight grueling years but he became proficient in both adult and pediatric cardiac surgery. Settling in Peoria, Illinois, he soon established a reputation for superior skills and immense compassion. He founded the Children’s Heart Institute in l980 ; Until then little patients were sent to Chicago or St Louis. Many “firsts” were accomplished such as pediatric mitral valve repair and the Norwood procedure. Patients and their families were grateful to find such lifesaving procedures close to home.

Dale spent most of his surgical career at OSF St Francis in Peoria; later, he helped revive struggling programs in the Quad Cities and Champaign Urbana. Ultimately he would complete 12000 surgeries over his lifetime. After a cancer diagnosis in 2018 he continued working through radiation, chemotherapy and several surgeries. The end came just after midnight on June 11. He was comforted by his wife, Pam, his daughter Kristin and Angie Brown his devoted nurse.

What did he do for enjoyment? Coworkers claim he could make it fun to be in the OR. If he could get away, he’d fly his twin engine Aerostar, a complex and difficult plane to master. He loved watching sports, football especially. And caring for stray cats, who seemed to know where to turn for love, warmth and vet care.

His family includes Pam, Kristin and Pam’s daughter Amy. Kristin is married to Michael Curran and has four grown children and three grandkids. Amy and her husband Bill have twin teenage boys.

His medical family includes hundreds of doctors and nurses he helped to become superior professionals. There has been an outpouring for love from so many who knew him as a caring compassionate but demanding physician who expected--and received--the best from everyone and most importantly, for his patients.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021 from 6-9 p.m. at the Warehouse on State, 736 SW Washington Street, Peoria. For details, please go to our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/dmgeissfoundation.org

Donations may be directed to the Dale Michael Geiss Cardiac Surgery Educational Foundation at 1624 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria IL 61603.