Longtime West Lafayette resident Robert (Bob) Earl Geiger passed away at Westminster Village on April 6th at the age of 81.  

Bob was predeceased by his beloved wife of 33 years, Lois Roper Geiger, who lost her battle to cancer in 1997. The two were married on December 26, 1964 in Middletown, Ohio and frequently told of their wintertime honeymoon to a family cabin in Houghton Lake, Michigan. Frozen pipes didn’t deter the adventuresome couple from their vacation. 

The only child of Earl and Amelia Benson Geiger, Bob was born in Flint, MI on March 21, 1936. A 1955 graduate of Flushing High School, he went on to play football and earn a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a Master’s degree from Ohio University where he met Lois. As a young man, “Coach Bob” taught English and coached at Mansfield (OH) High School, and then coached at Ashland College, Earlham College, University of Buffalo and Purdue University. Until his passing, Bob regularly received letters from the young men who considered him a mentor, father figure and friend.

After retiring from coaching, Bob completed his career as a State Farm Insurance agent with offices prominently located on Happy Hollow Road. 

Bob is lovingly remembered by his son Mike (Julie) Geiger of Frisco, TX, his daughter Christine (Jeff) Spence of St. Charles, IL and his six grandchildren: Anna, Michael, Matthew, Kyle, Jake, and Zach. He traveled frequently to visit all his family and never failed to send a card to acknowledge every birthday and each holiday – from St. Patrick’s Day through Halloween. 

An avid outdoorsman, Bob enjoyed hunting and fishing. He made annual fishing trips to northern Canada with longtime friends. He was also an active supporter of local chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quails Unlimited.

Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until the time of the memorial service at 2:00 pm on Friday at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West.  Entombment will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.