Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 301, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1915 — BELOVED FATHER GEITL PASSED AWAY [ARTICLE]

BELOVED FATHER GEITL PASSED AWAY

Prtat For Many Years ' Identified With W<*rk stt Indian Sdhcwl Died Monday -Evening, Father Andrew Geatl, beloved he citizen, friend, priest and editor, died at 8:15 o’clock Monday evening at the Indian School, just east of St Joseph’s college where he had for almost twenty-five years continually made hie home and engaged in his work as manager of the institution and editor of the publications that circulated extensively throughout the Society of the Precious Blood. These publications, The Messenger and Der Botschafter, the latter published in the German language, have been continually in his charge since they were founded and his ability as a writer and deep thinker was well known. Older Rensselaer citizens will recall that for a number of years the institution which is now the printing plant for these publications was a school for the, education of Indians and will recall that Father Geitl was the manager of that important branch of the work of the Society of the Precious Blood. , They will also recall that the work was given up some

years ago when government appropriations for the education of the Indians was withdrawn from religious denominations. Since that time the institution has generally been called the Indian school, but it has been used for the printing plant home and also the residence of. Father Geitl and a number of the brothers. Father Geitl was born in Bessenburkhem, Bayern, Germany, 61 years ago the 13th of last March. He Was left an orphan when A very small child and was raised by his uncle and aunt, the parents of Mrs. Henry Eigelsbach. When only eleven years of age he begtan his. religious studies with a vieiw to entering the priesthood. When less than eighteen yeajjs of age he came to America and at once continued his studies at Carthagenia, Ohio, the headquarters of the Society of the Precious Blood. After he had completed the course at the seminary he filled various pastoral charges and finally was chosen for the important work with the Indians.. Then, his work shifted to the publications above mentioned and with the exception of about a year and a half he had been continually .engaged in the work here. He was a man of pleasing personality and to be acquainted with him was to love him and he had such l a kindly disposition that he had friends without! number. He engaged in much silent charity and many a poor home has found its coal bins filled through the charity of Father Geitl. Many a home will miss his generous remembrances and many of those iWho had shared his benefactions have shed (tears upon his casket.

For the past eight years or more Father Geitl had been a diaVetis sufferer. His condition became alarming three weeks or more ago and one toe became gangrenous. This was removed and the local condition overcome but the poison had entered the system and he failed rapidly. The end came following the solemn services that are given by the Catholic church to the faithful pastors. He was surrounded by many close friends, among them Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eigelsbach, when the end came. This Tuesday morning the body was taken to the college chapel, where, at 9530 o’clock solemn high mass was held over the body. The remains were then brought to St. Augustine’s Catholic church in this city, where the body will lie in state and where ft may be viewed by friends this afternoon and evening. It will oe taken on the 1:38 train tonight to Frankfort and thence to salina, Ohio, where it wfll amve Wednesday morning at 11 o’clock and where the services will be held. Then it will be taken overland to Carthagenia, a distance of nine miles, and there the burial service will be held and the body laid to rest. Mr. and Mrs. Eigelsbach, Father Virginius Krull and brothers, Sylvester, Leonard, Franz and Adolph and probably others will accompany the remains.