FRANCIS J. GEELS

FRANCIS J. GEELS, 86, of Decatur, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, 2:25 p.m., at his residence. Born March 1, 1925, in Adams County, he was the son of the late John and Dorothy (Steig-meyer) Geels. He married Nonna C. Kline on April 30, 1947, she passed away on April 3, 2010. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge 1311 and The Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association. He worked as the Caretaker for St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery from 1947 to 1969 and for Decatur Cemetery from 1975 to 1990. He also owned and operated Decatur Concrete Products and Geels Backhoe. He was a renowned fiddle player and played with numerous groups including Joe Taylor & The Redbirds, The Geels Family Band, and Fiddler & Sis. He taught the fiddle with Master Artist Apprenticeship Program. He also made and repaired string instruments. He is survived by nine sons, Ralph (Vicky) Geels, Kenny (Lynn) Geels, Francis Jr. (Tina) Geels and Larry (Terri) Geels all of Decatur, Leo Geels of Ceylon, Ind., David (Lori) Geels, Edward Geels and Jerry (Kristy) Geels all of Decatur, and Ronnie Geels of Fort Wayne; eight daughters, Jean (Pete) Swenski and Marilyn Agler both of Decatur, Ellen (Steve) Musser of Berne, Linda Geels, Alice (Chris) Kernstein, Joyce (Bill) Seip and Anita (Tim) Hirschy all of Decatur and Janice (Peter) Van den Boom of the Netherlands; one brother, John (Carol) Geels of Decatur; four sisters, Helen Loshe, Esther Mowery and Alice Kline all of Decatur, and Marcille (David) Wall of Waynedale; 39 grandchildren; and 47 great grandchildren. Prayer Service will begin at 9:20 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2011 at Haggard-Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Decatur. Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14, 2011 at Haggard-Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home with a reciting of the Holy Rosary at 1:30 p.m. Burial in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Joseph Catholic School or to Family Hospice & Palliative Care. To sign our guestbook, please visit www.haggardandsefton.com