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Longevity earns Geiger OSD honors |
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Friday, June 26 2009 |
He was a baby when his parents moved from Rome City to Whitley County and 97-year-old Emmanuel Geiger has been here ever since.
By BECKY HAND
Community editor
He was a baby when his parents moved from Rome City to Whitley County and 97-year-old Emmanuel Geiger has been here ever since.
Geiger has been declared the oldest living settler in Whitley County (97 years, 5 months and 9 days) and the longest to have lived in Whitley County (more than 97 years) who registered at the Whitley County Historical Museum Thursday. He was honored at the courthouse stage last evening and presented with two plaques.
Geiger’s story is truly amazing, though his beginnings were traditional for his time.
He married Mable Marie (Cotton) when he was only 18 and was a farmer and drove a school bus for years.
They raised seven children, Bonnie, Gene, Paul Lee, Melvin (deceased), Darlene, Junior and DeLynn. Their family has also been blessed with 27 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. His wife died in 1996
At the age of 50, Geiger suffered the loss of a hand in a corn picker accident, and then at age 60, he lost the other hand in a similar accident.
This didn’t stop him, though. His brother created a device for him which allowed him to use a spoon and fork, and even to write with a pencil.
A severe burn to one of his legs in April of 2007 almost finished him.
“Doctors gave him a 110 percent fatality rate,” said Geiger’s son, DeLynn who told doctors to treat his father as if they expected him to walk out of there. Surprising those doctors, he did walk, and two years later he climbed the steps to the stage to accept his awards.
“In the Bible, Jesus said, ‘I’m gonna give you a new body.’ You think I’ll appreciate a new body?” said Geiger as he accepted the applause of the crowd.
Geiger’s daughter Darlene Delanoy concluded with her appreciation for her parents raising their family with a strong faith in God. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, June 30 2009 )
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