Roger W Geartz

He served in the Navy during WWII as a Ship Storekeeper 2nd class. He married Carrie E. Fletcher on May 1, 1943, shortly before being shipped off to England for his service in the Navy. They were married for 69 years before she died in 2012.

A native of Wilson, NY, Roger moved to FL in 1978 from Colombia, SC upon his retirement from Continental Can Company where he worked for 37 years, starting in the factory and working his way up to management positions. Rogers's job required a number of moves for his family as he became known as a successful trouble-shooter, living in N. Tonawanda, NY; Plymouth, MI; Fairview Park, OH; Oak Lawn, IL; Bloomfield Hills, MI; New Orleans, LA and Colombia, SC.

He was a longtime member of Faith Lutheran Church in Merritt Island where he served as Elder and taught Bible class. He volunteered as an assistant to the prison Chaplain at the Brevard County Jail for many years, teaching bible classes and counseling with individual inmates.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ida Geartz; his wife, Carrie E. Geartz (nee Fletcher); his son, Roger F. Geartz; three sisters and two brothers.

Roger is survived by his daughter, Gay L. Kauffman and her husband Edward from Calgary, AB; two grandsons, Joel J. Kauffman and wife Valarie from Sioux Falls, SD and Sean M. Kauffman from Pasadena, CA; four great-grandchildren, Josiah, Isaac, Eliza and Lucas; and two brothers, Rexwald from Haysville, NC and Burdell and his wife Mary Ann from Honeoye, NY

In lieu offlowers, donation in memory of Roger may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 280 E. Merritt Avenue, Merritt Island, Fl 32953 or to Vitas Community Connection, 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd, Suite 250, Melbourne, Fl 32934. Vitas provided loving care to Roger in his final days.

A visitation will be held Monday, October 26, 2015 from 11AM - 12PM with a funeral service to begin at 12PM at Faith Lutheran Church, Merritt Island.