BENNY BERTOLD HENRY GEIGER

In loving memory of Benny Bertold Henry Geiger, 63, who passed away Friday, June 9, 2006 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre in Dryden, Ont.
Ben was born Oct. 23, 1942 in Thunder Bay, Ont. to Bertold and Sadie Geiger. He spent his early years in the Pinewood, Ont. area.
In 1961, at the age of 18, he met Marie Amy Logan while they were working at a tourist camp. On April 6, 1962, they married at the La Vallee United Church.
They moved to Atikokan, Ont. and started their family. During the early years of their marriage, Ben worked at the Mando Camps. They moved to Thunder Bay in 1966, where Ben started working for the Great Lakes Mill.
In 1971, he purchased his first truck—a new Mack tractor—and began working for Kingsway. Over the years, he purchased other trucks and a variety of forest harvesting equipment, spending the last 36 years of his life running his own business, “Ben Geiger Trucking.”
When he wasn’t driving his truck, you would find him puttering around in his shop. He also enjoyed fishing and gardening, rebuilding a truck, and building go-carts.
Ben appreciated the beauty of nature’s flowers and trees. He also enjoyed teaching both his sons and grandsons the basics of mechanics as he was able to repair most anything.
Ben’s family was the most important part of his life, and spending time at home with his family and grandchildren was something Ben loved dearly, including his dog, Zeus.
Ben was a very loving, caring, and compassionate man who was very giving, and who took pride in everything he did.
He had a dream for his retirement: to purchase a house on the lake to enjoy his “golden” years with Marie. Sadly, he will never be able to carry out his last dream.
Ben was survived by his wife of 44 years, Marie; daughters, Dawn (Patrick) Magee of Kenora, Ont. and Shelly (Jason) Penner of Stettler, Alta.; sons, Ben Jr. and Douglas (Kathleen) of Vermilion Bay, Ont; and six grandchildren, Sean Magee of Kenora, Ont., Kevin Magee of Kingston, Ont., Dakota and Colton Penner of Stettler, Alta., and Jessica and Damian Geiger of Vermilion Bay, Ont.
Also surviving is his mother, Sadie Kozak, brothers, Billy (Crystal) Geiger, Leonard Kozak, and Bobby Kozak; sisters, Violet (Larry) Zaluski and Ruth Ann (Hans) Lubenow, all of Prince George, B.C.; and mother-in-law, Helen Logan of Devlin, Ont.
Numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other relatives also mourn Ben’s passing.
Ben was predeceased by his father, Bertold Geiger; step-father, William Kozak; father-in-law, Thomas Logan; and brother-in-law, Larry Logan.
Visitation was held at the Dryden Community Funeral Home in Dryden on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The funeral service was held Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at 1 p.m. at the Dryden Community Funeral Home, with Mr. John Mulders officiating.
Interment followed at the Vermilion Bay Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Vic Krassilowsky, Bob White, Matt Weston, Donny McDonald, Norman Anderson, and Donnie Mills.
The honourary pallbearers were Walter Leutschaft, Art Peters, Arnie Cooper, Rene Landry, Tom Morrish, Roland Kirouac, Norman Kirouac, and Don Roulston.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Machin Medical Clinic c/o the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave., Dryden, Ont., P8N 2X3.