After a lengthy illness, James (Jim) George Geitner, age 79, was granted his final wishes for a peaceful passing to his heavenly home on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Jim was born on August 4, 1939, to Richard George Geitner and Clara A. Hoffman in St. Marys. He was a graduate of St. Vincent Preparatory School, attended St. Vincent College, and pledged his life to God as he studied to become a priest. God had other plans for Jim, however, and was blessed with eight children.
A devoted man of God, Jim raised his children in the Catholic faith and was a member of the Elk County Cursillo Movement. When not at mass at Sacred Heart Church, where he also enjoyed singing, you’d find Jim in his favorite recliner enjoying a beer while watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates or Penguins. It’s no secret that he may have needed to attend a confession or two after some games, but he sure never gave up on his teams and relished in their Super Bowl and Stanley Cup wins. He finally found peace when he realized he wouldn’t see the Pirates win another World Series.
Jim was a selfless provider for his family, as he was a former employee of the Keystone Carbon Company for 20 years, Windfall for 19 years, and had also worked at Pennsylvania Heat Treater, Straub Brewery, and was a former school bus driver. He officially retired in 2007.
Jim was a member of the Singing Dutchmen, as well as the St. Marys Senior Center, and the Card Club at Elk Towers.
Jim is survived by his four daughters, Theresa Hinton and her husband Michael of St. Marys, Cynthia Kmetz and her husband James of St. Marys, Kimberly Faulk and her husband William of Brockport, and Michelle Baron and her husband Kenneth of Kersey; three sons, Timothy Geitner and his wife Molly of St. Marys, Randall Geitner and his wife Laura of Frederick, MD, and Michael Geitner and his wife Hollie of Pittsburgh; 22 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Dorothy Lang of St. Marys; and by a brother, Patrick Geitner and his wife Theresia of St. Marys.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a son, Christopher M. Geitner, who passed away on September 9, 2005.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Michael Gabler, OSB, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Christopher Geitner Memorial Scholarship Fund, Elk County Catholic School System, Finance Office, 600 Maurus Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.