CAMERON, Mo. — Donald D. Geil, 80, passed away peacefully at the Veterans Home in Cameron, Mo., on Sept. 11. His wife of 56 years, Angela, was at his side. Memorial services will be at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Mercy, 2115 Maturana Drive, Liberty, Mo. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the church.
Donald was born Feb. 3, 1930, to Earl and Merle Geil. He was the oldest of five children, growing up on a wheat farm in Barton County. Don graduated from Great Bend High School, then attended Kansas State University to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. During his college years he participated in the ROTC program and graduated as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He served in the military during the Korean War as a cartography officer, then continued in the reserves for six more years. While he was in the reserves, he returned to K-State and earned a master’s degree in geology. He was a graduate assistant and taught laboratory classes while completing his degree.
Donald spent the early years of his professional career working for a major oil company in Texas. Later he became an independent petroleum geologist, discovering oil in oil fields in the Permian Basin in Texas and Oklahoma.
Don was an active member of the American Society of Petroleum Geologists.
Donald married Angela Hoss in 1954. They are parents of five children, Pam (George) of Atlanta, Ga., Mark of Houston, Texas, Anita (Tom) of Kansas City, Mo., Dan (Cathy) of Iowa Park, Texas, and Toi (Bern) of Bellingham, Wash. They have seven grandchildren.
Donald had a number of hobbies which he shared with his wife and children. When the children were young, they enjoyed many camping vacations. In Houston Don organized and was founding commodore of the Lake Houston Sailing Club. In Oklahoma City he was a member of the Oklahoma City Boat Club and established an Explorer Scout group and was its adviser.
Donald is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, brothers Gene and Larry, and sister Joan, as well as deceased brother Glenn and many nieces and nephews. He touched many lives and helped many people during his stay on Planet Earth. He will be missed by all.
Funeral arrangements provided by
White Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory*
6600 N. Antioch Rd.
Gladstone, MO 64119
816-452-8419
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Sept. 14, 2010
