Martha “Marti” Hausch Geise, 71, went home on Saturday, May 27, 2023 after a brief battle with mesothelioma to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
She was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, the third of four daughters by her parents, Walter R. Hausch and Ann (McKinniss) Hausch. She graduated from Copley High School, Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in Bible studies, and Marshall University with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She was active in Christian pastoral care for many years. In 1984 she moved to Northumberland and met her husband William “Bill” Geise Jr., whom she married in 1986. Marti and Bill were blessed with three children, a stillborn son and two daughters.
There was hardly a topic that Marti couldn’t talk about. She loved to study, so she read a lot and attended many educational events. When her daughters were of school age, she devoted herself to homeschooling. She taught them the joy of learning and enabled them to have a varied and interesting apprenticeship. For many years they were members of the Susquehanna Civil War Roundtable and the Northumberland County Historical Society, and Marti has served in leadership roles in both organizations. Considering herself a citizen of the valley, Marti traveled widely to attend educational events at local libraries and history societies.
Marti was very creative; She saw in every object the potential to transform into something beautiful. She loved cooking and baking and was constantly inventing new recipes, some of which were award-winning. She also loved to crochet, paint, calligraph, write, flower arrange and do crafts. She was always willing to try something new and picked up the skills quickly.
Marti had a strong and saving faith in Jesus, which she nurtured in herself and others through Church membership and service. She loved the Bible, missions, Christian books, and listened to sermons and songs on Christian radio and online. She especially loved the work of CS Lewis and his friends, the “Inklings”. As Marti reflected on her life, she remembered CS Lewis’ quote in Perelandra: “The world is so much bigger than I thought. I thought we were walking paths – but it seems that there are no paths. Walking itself is the way.” .”
Marti is survived by her husband Bill and daughter Melissa Geise, both from Northumberland, and daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Tyler McDonald from Norristown. Also her sisters and husbands Pat (Michael) Pearson and Mary Hausch (Bob Coffin), all from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cathy (Tom) Clark from Maysville, Kentucky; Sister in law Betsy (Earl) Buckley of Campbell NY and many nieces and nephews.
Her son Jonathan Geise died her; and her parents.
A celebration of Marti’s life will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, July 22 at First Baptist Church, 12 Brookside Dr., Danville (on Route 642 East), led by Rev. Darrin Hunt. Relatives and friends are received in the church from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Degenstein Community Library, 40 S. 5th St., Sunbury PA 17857, the Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library, 100 King St., Northumberland PA 17857, or the Good News Club Inc. of Northumberland County Child Evangelism Fellowship, 53. Blue Hill Road, Northumberland, PA 17857.
The organization is under the direction of Visneski Funeral Home, Inc., 42 W. Mahoning St., Danville. www.visneski.com
