Winfred Geisler

Winfred Ralph Geisler, age 91, passed away Monday, May 16, 2011 from complications of congestive heart failure. He was born July 8, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York, son of Clarence Winfred Geisler and Daisie Aileen Sturrup. Gerda Mueller married Winfred Ralph Geisler on December 1, 1946 in New York City. During World War II he served in the Coast Guard as a Boatswains Mate, First Class in the South Pacific. Winfred was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 30, 1949 and on May 9, 1950 was sealed to his beloved wife Gerda in the Salt Lake City Temple. After retirement, Winfred served in the Salt Lake City Temple as a temple worker for 15 years. Winfred attended Art Schools in New York City, which included the Pratt Institute and the Grand Central School of Art. Throughout his life he used his artistic talents to create various sculptures, murals, oil paintings, portraits, which were shown in galleries, church magazines, and national competitions, receiving awards for a number of his works. As his profession he was employed at Hill Air Force Base as a Technical Illustrator, where he retired at the age of 72. While employed there, he was commissioned to paint portraits of retiring Generals, and was involved with numerous murals portraying aspects of Air Force history. Winfred had a wide range of interests and abilities. He was an artist, craftsman, engineer, carpenter, potter, sailor, maker of musical instruments, astronomer, mountain man. First and foremost, he used all of these skills and interests to benefit his family, and often invited family members to participate in his crafts and to teach them his skills. He was the ultimate mentor. He is survived by his eternal companion, Gerda Mueller Geisler, his four children and spouses, Daniel and Julie Geisler, Mark and Pamela Geisler, Mary Lynne (Sessions), and Steven and Sandie Geisler, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 18th, from 6-8 PM, and for friends and family on Thursday May 19th, from 11:45 AM -12:45 PM, with funeral service to follow at 1 PM at the Russon Brothers Mortuary in Bountiful. Interment will be at the Bountiful Cemetery.