Randal James "Randy" Geary

Randy Geary, a son, father, brother, grandfather, caring friend, and a man whose love language was helping others, died peacefully from natural causes after longtime health complications on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 59.

Born in Sac City, Iowa, Randy was the second son of William James (Bill) Geary and Lana Sanders Geary. He grew up in Carroll, Iowa, with his brother Danny Geary and sister-in-love Deanna Weber. After attending Carroll Community grade school and high school, graduating in 1985, Randy went to Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny to learn diesel mechanics, a vocation he pursued for the rest of his life. Randy was married to Janet Schaeuble Geary for 16 years, and they welcomed two daughters: Heather in 1986 and Holli in 1991. For the past 17 years, Randy was shop manager at Old Dominion Freight Line in Ankeny, Iowa.

A man who could fix anything, Randy inherited his attention to detail from his dad and kept meticulous records. If his daughters called to ask how to fix something, his answer was always, "We can get it done." Then he'd show up with the necessary tools, and it was done. A stubborn guy with a huge heart, Randy might have complained while finishing a job but loved every minute. He was dedicated to his work and was devastated when his health issues kept him from it.

Randy loved hard, and he told it like it was. He loved his daughters fiercely and talked about them with deep pride. He saved their childhood report cards. He was in awe of how his girls created their own families and told them this often. He loved his Harleys, constantly tinkering with them, and was a passionate collector of Harley memorabilia. Randy enjoyed browsing through antique stores, and vintage Hot Wheels cars filled cabinet drawers in his house. His 1972 Chevy Nova was a pet project, and he surprised his grandsons at daycare by picking them up in it. When he listened to classic rock, he opened the windows and cranked it up. Randy was the life of every party. He was a master griller, and when his neighbors saw him outside grilling, they showed up instantly, bringing the side dishes to create a feast. He loved talking recipes and restaurants. He collected goofy jokes and shared them happily. His pets, Sandi the mini-Sheltie and Naz the cat got the royal treatment from Randy too.

Being a grandpa made Randy realize what it meant to be a dad. He cherished time spent with his grandkids, and this helped him learn to balance work and life. His greatest wish was for his family to know how much he loved them.

Randy is survived by his mother Lana Geary of Carroll, IA; his daughters Heather (Jared) Leeper, of Bondurant, IA, and Holli (Kyle) Hausladen, of Buffalo, MN; his brother Danny (Susie) Geary and their children of Carroll, IA; his sister-in-love Deanna Weber of Kansas City, KS; his grandchildren Hilton Leeper, Jack Leeper, and Kali Hausladen; his former wife Janet Geary of Altoona, IA; his loving friend Lisa Scott of Pleasant Hill, IA; and other extended family members and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his father Bill Geary in 2024, his grandparents, and other relatives.

Randy's family is planning a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.

"You only live once, so enjoy the ride."