He was born Aug. 24, 1917, east of Beulah to Charles and Mae (Davidson) Geier. After the death of his mother, Charles married Florence. Delbert helped raise his two brothers and three sisters with his parents.
He attended different rural schools, Beulah, Harmony, Frog Holler and Mount Zion. He attended his freshman year at Parsons High School and his sophomore year at Girard. He wanted to play football but wasn't allowed, so he quit school and began seriously farming with his dad.
On Oct. 30, 1941, he married Helen L. Stattery in Frontenac. She preceded him in death Jan. 9, 1992.
He served in the Army as a 1st sergeant with Red, Charles and Glen. He was in the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion and carried a bazooka. He brought 159 men overseas and took home 157. He never acknowledged he should have received a Purple Heart because he was all heart and his men came first. He was well decorated with the Medal of Honor.
He was in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria and England and never wanted to return. He saw the Battle of the Bulge, guarded German women, almost took Berlin and came close to being bombed with the infamous V-1 Buzz Bomb.
He loved horses, gardening, cooking, shooting pool and playing cards (pitch and poker). He especially loved his palomino, Goldie. In his younger years, he worked for Delbert Cherry, plucking and cleaning chickens for 50 cents a day and farmed for Roy Garrett plowing fields also for 50 cents a day.
He was a member of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, the Anti Horse Thief Association, GRANGE, NFO, American Legion of Girard, VFW of Girard and was on the board of the Producers Co-Op Association, ASCS office member as well as the Farm Bureau and Federal Land Bank Board.
He helped build the Water District No. 4 along with Wilse, Mead and John.
He carefully taught Sonny DeLange, Ray Earl Geier and both Richard Geiers how to farm.
He loved all his nieces and nephews, especially Lonnie and Larry Geier and Jeff Seibert, who hayed for him. They knew accomplishment when they beat Uncle Delbert at pitch. He paid no attention to little girls such as Alpha Sherry or Sandra.
Mead and Perina Gibbs were he and Helen's closest friends. He definitely admired Don Ross, Sandra's husband. He loved Austin and Colton Ross Reed, Kale and Ty Kirby and adored that little red-haired Courtney Ross as well as her mother Stephanie Ross and Melanie Kirby. He thought that Scott Kirby was one of the finest young men he ever knew. Scott always listened to Delbert, even when he sometimes repeated his stories. He enjoyed taking food to Stanley and Merle Ross and felt a lot of pride in how well they worked together and he had a hand in teaching these two young farmers.
He loved Frank and Randy Geier, Bo Boulware and yes, you, "Joe Boy," best of all, because you remind him of his old friend. He considered Wilse Page, Mead Gibbs, Glen Geier, Charles Goff, Freddy, Burr and Raymond Geier and Glade Peel his closest working farm friends. Jack Geier, Brownie Geier, Harold Houston, "Joe Boy" Page, Stanley and Merle Ross, Sonny DeLange, Harmon Hanks, Ray and Roy Jones and Lennie Westervelt as successful.
This big man left a farming legacy for the future. He and Helen together built a farming empire not because of anything they did or didn't do; they lost it all to Reaganomics, high-interest rates and a faulty irrigation system.
Survivors include caretaker Sandra Geier of the home; Stanley and Merle Ross, both of rural Pittsburg; Melanie Kirby of Liberal, Mo.; three sisters, Bernice DeLange, Deloris Leach and Alpha Scales, all of Girard; and two brothers, Richard and Ray Earl Geier of Girard.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.
The service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Brenner Mortuary with the Rev. Marvin Boore, Priest Marvin Olson and Elder Woody Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in the Girard City Cemetery, where the Girard American Legion will provide graveside military services. The family will receive friends at the Brenner Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. today, where friends may call after 11 a.m. to sign the register. Memorials may be left to the SEK Humane Society or the Girard American Legion. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. A funeral dinner will be served at the Girard American Legion Hall following the burial. Online condolences may be left at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.
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