Kathleen “Kathy” Ellen Geiger

Kathleen “Kathy” Ellen Geiger, 75, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on November 27, 2023. Kathy was born on October 1, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was the youngest child of Francis and Pauline (O’Connell) Kirsch.

Kathy was raised on a farm outside of Hornick, Iowa, and showed animals for 4H. She played the clarinet and was involved in various school activities until graduating from Westwood High School in 1966.

After graduation from Wayne State College with a bachelor’s degree in education, she moved to Vinton, Iowa, to be a Braille teacher at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. Kathy didn’t know anything about Braille when she was hired, but teaching Braille to visually impaired students became her lifelong passion. Her daughter, Amy Ellen, was born on November 3, 1981.

In 1988, Kathy and Amy moved to Beaumont, Texas, and she worked for Region V Education Service Center teaching blind and visually impaired students until her retirement in 2008. Kathy mentored several new Braille teachers and would do contract work by helping with Braille teaching materials.

Kathy loved to read, travel, have lunch dates with her friends, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, playing games on her phone, having long conversations with her daughter and grandchildren, and watching the granddaughters’ school events. Even if she couldn’t be in South Dakota where Amy lives, she would watch the events on YouTube.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Amy (Johnathon) Lockett of New Holland, South Dakota; three granddaughters, Angelina, Jacqueline, and Olivia Lockett of New Holland, South Dakota; brother, Franklin Kirsch of Lacey Spring’s, Alabama; sister, Francine McGregor of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; and several cousins, nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Pauline Kirsch; former in-laws, Lynn and Marion Geiger; and brother-in-law, William McGregor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Kathy’s name be donated to the charity of preference.

A gathering of Ms. Geiger’s family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont. Her graveside service will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Willow Township Cemetery in her hometown of Hornick, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will follow from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the American Legion Hall, 306 Main Street, Hornick.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 King James Bible