On December 23, 2008, our father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great, great grandfather, Rudolf W. Geissler (known to many as OPA) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma completed a life of 101 years bringing happiness to those that he came in contact with. 

He was born on June 22, 1907 in Leipzig, Germany to Max Conrad and Martha Geissler.  

At the age of 19 after serving as an apprentice grist miller, he came to the United States and began work as a baker's assistant at his sponsor's bakery in Chicago.  He immediately began night school to learn English and the American ways so that he could shortly thereafter obtain his American citizenship. 

He married Ina Coen in 1930. Later they moved to a small farm in the Michigan City, Indiana area to raise their three children. In addition to his working career as a machinist for Michigan City firms, he was actively involved with the Pine Township, Indiana Farm Bureau, was a charter/founding member of the Pine Township Volunteer Fire Department, in later years raised evergreen trees and was known for his enjoyment of music and his singing, playing the harmonica, mandolin, concertina, and the musical saw. 

After the death of his wife in 1981, he lived in the Ft. Worth area of Texas, San Bernardino area of California, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 

Rudolf was preceded in death by his wife, Ina, and his sister, Erna Franey. 

He is survived by his three children: Rudy Geissler of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; George Geissler of El Mirage, Arizona; and Martha Geissler of Charlotte, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and 5 great, great, grandchildren. 

Rudolf was a participant of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Willed Body.

Posted 1/2/2009