James W. Geiling passed away peacefully with his family at his side on January 2  ^nd  from complications associated with Parkinson's disease. A deeply religious man devoted to his faith, he will be forever missed by his friends and family.

Jim grew up in Milton PA, born in 1932 in the upstairs bedroom of his family home. Family tragedies including, at age 12, the untimely death of his father from tuberculosis and the need to care for his mother with arthritis led to an early maturity, focusing on family needs above self and the importance of study and work, starting as a newspaper boy at a young age. Yet he also enjoyed the rambunctiousness of youth, wandering around the riverside town on his bike. Later during Sunday school, grammar-school class, and perhaps other purposeful encounters, he befriended Margaret. Together, starting as homecoming King and Queen of Milton High School, he and his Peggy shared a lifetime of love, devotion, and over 66 years of wonderful marriage.

Following high school, he graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University. He devoted his working life to his engineering profession and a highly successful 38-year career with the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. Unusual in today's climate, he began his tenure as a summer student learning power plant operations as well as maintenance and testing procedures. His career then followed a series of progressions – Brunner Island Power Plant results engineer, Manor Coal Plant Assistant/Acting Plant Superintendent, Assistant Plant Betterment Engineer, and Manager of Education and Training. In 1971 he became the company's first Superintendent of its Berwick PA nuclear plant and subsequently Manager of Power Plant Engineering in 1974 where he directed all generating plant engineering activities. Late career opportunities took him into Environmental Management and even to Pakistan's Power Development Authority as Director of Special Projects.

Retirement from PP&L in 1993 did not lead to idleness. He remained active as an engineering consultant and devoted energies to a variety of volunteer organizations, including the Boy Scout's Minsi Trails Council Board, Emmaus' Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, the American Red Cross, the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and Milton PA's Lodge 256 and Shrine where he was a Master Member of the Masonic Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He enjoyed ongoing collaboration with peers at the Engineers Club of the Lehigh Valley and serving on the Board of Directors for Bucknell's Engineering Alumni Association.

Jim's professional and volunteer efforts were highly appreciated and recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers where he was a Registered Professional Engineer, the American Nuclear Society, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Edison Electric Institute where he received its Engineering and Operations Engineering Award. He has been listed in Who's Who, Who's Who in Science and Engineering and Who's Who Environmental Registry. Engaging in these organizations and sharing the many trips to meetings and gatherings with Peggy brought great pleasure and many enduring friendships for them both along the way.

Despite all these professional accomplishments and accolades, "husband," "brother," "dad," "uncle," "grandpa," and now "great grandpa" were his most treasured titles. Jim was serious in purpose and high in expectations, but also humble, devoted, and most at ease and in joyful spirits around his family. While togetherness as a family over holidays or on the beach in Stone Harbor, NJ was especially important to all, it was also those one-on-one moments that touched each one's hearts. Disliking idleness, he was always tinkering to fix things, build projects, dig in the sand, or assemble toys.

Everyone in the family also knew how proud he was of them. Certificates of achievement, hand-made prize "medals" and cardboard playhouses were appropriately awarded to make his family feel pride in themselves. He and Peggy were devoted to their grandchildren – babysitting, attending German school, standing at cold soccer games and hockey rinks, enjoying dance recitals and marathons, driving lessons, and shooting lessons to name a few. From PA to California to Germany they were always there to share in the kids' joys, celebrations, and tribulations. They also loved to travel, enjoying excursions and cruises to China, Bermuda, the Mediterranean, Baltic Sea and Russia, British Isles, Australia and New Zealand, and the Panama Canal, a special treat for the ever-interested engineer.

Parkinson's began to impact Jim's activities in the six years before his passing. Frustrated with the affliction, troubled that he couldn't "engineer" it away, and so sorry to have impacted his wife, he remained hopeful, and humble throughout. He was ever thankful for his angel caregivers and for his family's visits and calls, setting a remarkable example of fortitude and grace for us all.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Herbert and Kathryn Geiling, and sister Mary Elizabeth Geiling Grashoff. He is survived by his loving wife Peggy of Allentown, daughter Lynne and husband Al of Easton, son Jim and wife Karen of New Hampshire, and his four granddaughters, one grandson, two grandson-in-laws, and five great grandchildren from Boston to Parkesburg to Wyoming to Easton. They were the sparks in his eye, the ones that he spoke of daily, and the ones who will find that gap in their hearts with his passing so difficult to endure. Yet as a man who spent his life on his knees with head bowed in prayer, his life has been so blessed and fulfilled, as have ours to have had him in our lives.

The family wishes to express its gratitude during Jim's illness to the dedicated Griswold Homecare care givers, Bayada Hospice's nursing and spiritual care team, Dr Nancy Urankar, and their Luther Crest Family. In lieu of flowers, please contribute memorial donations to Philadelphia Shriners Children's at  Donate to Shriners Hospitals for Children® (lovetotherescue.org)  or the Luther Crest Benevolent fund at  Giving (diakon.org)  and please share an online memory of Jim at:  www.schantzfh.com  .

Jim's funeral will take place on Wednesday January 11  ^th  at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Emmaus, calling hours from noon till 2 with the service to follow.  Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus is handling arrangements.