Chester Geels

Chester Geels, 90 years old, arrived at his eternal home on Sunday morning, November 19, 2023. He passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus surrounded by his family.

Chet was born to John and Betty (Kempers) Geels on April 15, 1933 in Hudsonville, Michigan, and was married to Gretta Terpstra in 1960 at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. They were blessed with four children, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren–Tim (Susan) Geels, Diane (David) Huizenga, Stephanie (Jeff) Baade, and Steven (Kristin) Geels; grandchildren Bryan (Courtney) Geels, Caleb Geels, Ashley Geels, Travis Geels, and Kaitlin Geels, Ben (Lynn) Huizenga, Lindsay (Taylor) Marcus, Taylor (Kelsey) Huizenga, Erika (Jordan) Lubben, Alisha (Pablo) Yanez, Claire (Luke) Schroeder, Rebecca (Alex) Kooi, Jack Geels, Will Geels, and Joe Geels; great-grandchildren Stella, Benjamin, David, Gretta, Penny, Noa, RJ, Reid, Peyton, Wade, Jamie, Dax, and Grayson.

Chet graduated from high school in 1950. He worked on a farm near Sully, the Sully Creamery and the Maytag Company before deciding he needed more education. He moved to Milwaukee and attended Milwaukee School of Engineering for one year. After one year he enlisted in the Air Force Cadet program. After 15 months of military and navigation training, he received his commission and wings. Chet was assigned to MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida and flew on refueling missions all over the world. In September of 1957, Chet left active duty and enrolled in Iowa State University to become an engineer.

Upon graduation Chet took a job in Milwaukee, Wisconsin working for Allen-Bradley (now Rockwell Automation). He was in the Iowa Air National Guard while in college and transferred to the Wisconsin Air National Guard, 128th air refueling wing in Milwaukee flying in KC-97 tankers as a navigator. Chet retired from the guard in 1975 as a Lt. Col. with 20 years of military service and from the Allen Bradley company in 1994 with 33 years of service.

Chet was a man of strong faith and active in his church community.  Upon retirement he built a vacation home at Lake Arrowhead in Rome, Wisconsin where much time was spent with family and friends.  He loved keeping busy and working with his hands. Intarsia projects were a favorite past time making and giving many projects away to family and friends. He loved being together with his children and grandchildren, planning several reunions for the family to be together to celebrate anniversaries, and birthday milestones. Chet and Gretta loved traveling to many warm destinations during their retirement.  He’ll be remembered for his jokes and stories, love of adventure, cherished times with family and friends, joy in creating, love of nature, love for his country and his strong faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His purpose in life was to bring glory to God and he enjoyed showing it to others by the way he lived his life and carrying on the legacy instilled in him by his parents. He lived his life by his high school motto, “Only one life will soon be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Visitation will be on Friday, November 24, 2023 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin. A second visitation will be held at Brookfield Christian Reformed Church, 14135 West Burleigh Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, November 25, 2023 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM with service to follow at 11:00 AM. Burial at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to the Brookfield Christian School Foundation.

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