Harold "Jack" Geller

Harold “Jack” Geller, age 94, passed away on Thursday, April 30th, 2020 at the Neilson Place in Bemidji, MN.  Jack was born on December 10th, 1925 in Guthrie, MN, the son of Dora (Collins) and Ernest Geller.

Jack grew up and attended the Schoolcraft school until the eighth grade; when he quit school to go to work.  He joined the United States Navy at the age of 17, with his mother’s signature.  While stationed in Hawaii, Jack trained with both the Navy and the Marines and boasted that he had to carry two sea bags.  Once he was assigned to a ship, he saw the world from one island to another throughout the Pacific, including Hiroshima and China.  Jack was honorably discharged after three years of service and returned home to Bemidji, MN.  He became a lifetime member of both the American Legion and the VFW.

On April 17, 1951, Jack married Hazel Eileen Lesetmoe and together they raised a daughter, Joan and five sons, Hal, Chuck, Robert, Gregg and Mike.  Jack worked construction for many years throughout Minnesota and Alaska and worked on the pipeline when it first came to Bemidji.  When he finished working construction, he started his own logging business and worked until a logging accident in 1979.  Although disabled, he went to work for Hills Heating until he was 80.  Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing, keeping his yard beautiful and working in his garden.  He loved his family and all his grandchildren, and we will miss him very much.

Family that Jack has reunited with are his wife, Hazel; son, Robert; and his siblings, Melvin, Lloyd, Verla, Stella, Orville, Della, Hazel, Arthur, Colleen, Byron and Julie.

He is survived by his daughter, Joan (Dick) Riley; sons, Hal (Marilyn) Geller, Chuck Geller, Gregg (JoEllen) Geller and Mike (Barb) Geller, 17 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Our “thanks” to the staff at Neilson Place for taking such good care of our father.

A Celebration of Jack’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11th, 2020 at the Mount Zion Church in Bemidji, MN.  Pastor Kent Dudley will officiate.  Inurnment will be in the Calvary Cemetery immediately following services.  The family requests that you please respect social distancing.

                        Condolences may be mailed to the family at

                                        Greg Geller

                                        1209 Norton Ave. NW

                                       Bemidji. Mn 56601

Jack’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN.  Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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