Kenneth E. Geister

Kenneth Edward Geister, who went by Ken or Kenneth — never Kenny, a point he made sure of even in the nursing home, where he posted a handwritten sign for the staff as a reminder — passed away on September 6, 2026, in Evergreen, Colorado, at age 75.

A Christian Funeral will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 11 AM, with a time of gathering from 10-10:45 AM, all at Immanuel Lutheran Church on Fish Lake, 20200 Fairlawn Avenue, Prior Lake, MN. Rev. Dr. Brent Parrish will preside. Kenneth will be laid to rest at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Ken was born on July 13, 1951, in New Prague, Minnesota, to Edwin and Margaret (Everman) Geister. He grew up south of Prior Lake in Spring Lake Township. During the Vietnam draft, he prayed not to be called; the military stopped calling on drafts the day his group would have gone. He credited this to his close relationship with Jesus and the power of prayer.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 1973 from Bemidji State University with a major in Social Work and a minor in vocal music. In 1978, he married Donna (Bohnsack) Geister. The couple moved to Indiana, where Ken earned a master's degree in Religion from Concordia Theological Seminary, and where their first child, Andrew Geister, was born in 1981. They later returned to Minnesota, where their second child, Claire Geister, was born in late 1982. Ken and Donna divorced in 1989.

Ken worked in social services for Scott, Carver, and Dakota Counties until his retirement in 2010. In 2015, he moved to Colorado to be near his first and only grandchild, Anne Geister. Following a severe stroke in May 2025, he moved to a nursing home, where he passed away in September 2026 from complications.

Even after the stroke dramatically changed his life, physical abilities, and cognition, Ken kept his sense of humor — joking with the medical staff and often wanting to cook or cater meals for them as a thank you. He loved to experiment with recipes; among his files were pages he'd printed of his own creations, each headed “From the kitchen of Ken Geister, where experimentation is a way of life.” He treasured his community of neighbors in Colorado and their organized block parties.

Ken was well known for his impressive collection of carnival glass, which began with an incomplete set of cups and a pitcher gifted to him by his mother. His quest to find the missing piece grew into a lifelong hobby and a collection of several thousand pieces, which he proudly organized, labeled, and displayed in antique Globe Wernicke barrister bookcases.

In his earlier years in Minnesota, Ken enjoyed country dancing and a regular card group with friends. He was crafty and handy, with a love of restoring antique furniture and other woodworking projects, including a beautiful dollhouse he built for his granddaughter. He enjoyed growing flowers, especially irises, which he shared with neighbors and sent photos to friends and family who lived farther away.

Ken was also a dedicated fan of the Minnesota Vikings football team, faithfully following and cheering for them through every season.

In his final months, when asked what he wanted people to know and remember about him, Ken said that having children and a grandchild were among the most rewarding parts of his life, and that being kind and helping others was something he valued deeply.

Ken is survived by his children, Andrew (Lan) Geister and Claire Geister; grandchild, Anne Geister; sisters, Karen Mueller and Joanne (Jim) Haferman and their families. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Margaret Geister and brother-in-law, William Mueller.