Maynard Emil Geske

Maynard E Geske, 93, of Chandler, AZ passed away peacefully on Oct 10, 2024. He was born in St Charles, Illinois to Emil and Amanda Geske. His father died when he was 14 and he would take odd jobs to help support the family. He graduated from St Charles High School in 1948 and eventually enlisted in the Air Force.

In the Air Force he was stationed in Japan and then Korea where he repaired the sheet metal damage on the aircraft. He was eventually stationed at Luke Air Force Base and while there he met the love of his life, Frances Brown. On the day of his discharge from the Air Force he married Frances and they bought a small family farm in south Phoenix where they raised 5 children,

Maynard continued his sheet metal skills and was a member of Local 359 of the Sheet Metal Union. He ended up working for Goettl Brothers Air Conditioning for over 30 years until he retired.

While raising 5 children Maynard also raised cotton and then alfalfa to make some additional income. He also grew an amazing garden and was able to raise our own beef and pork. Many evenings were spent riding the horses and watching the sunsets.

Even though he worked long hours in sheet metal and then farming he always made time to spend time with the kids. He loved the outdoors and would love to take drives out to the desert or the mountains just to have a picnic. He also would take us fishing and hunting while growing up to appreciate and respect the beauty of nature.

Maynard and Frances moved to Chandler, AZ in 1977 where he built a new house for them. He again had a beautiful garden which he loved to work. He loved to give the garden excess the food banks to help feed the less fortunate.

Maynard and Frances loved to travel throughout Arizona and the Southwest and they were interested in the Native American culture. One of their close friends, Jim and Patricia Neathery lived on the reservation as Jim worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They were a wealth of knowledge and many trips to the Indian Ruins around the southwest satisfied yet piqued his curiosity.

Maynard was not a real talkative type yet he led by example and his work ethic. He was active in all the churches he attended. First with Christ Lutheran in Phoenix, then Epiphany Lutheran in Chandler, and finally with Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Az. He had a deep love of Jesus Christ and made sure that his family knew of that love and wanted us to share in that love as well.

Maynard is preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Amanda Geske, bother Donald Geske, wife of 65 years, Frances, daughters Deborah Richardson, and Karen Young.

He is survived by daughter Sheila (Delbert) Richardson, sons Neil Geske, and Mark (Vicky) Geske, 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and 12 great great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at a future date.