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Jack "Chip" Geckeler Obituary - Hill Funeral Home

Arrangements

Visitation will be on Thursday, October 5 from 4-7 p.m. at HILL FUNERAL HOME, 220 S. State St. Westerville, Ohio. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 6077 Sharon Woods Blvd. Columbus, Ohio

I would like to express my sympathies to Chip's family. I taught with Chip at Pointview for several years. He was an outstanding teacher. The students loved him and he loved them just as much. Chip always had a smile on his face. He was kind to everyone - a real gentleman. May he Rest In Peace.
Sincerely
Brenda Devine

Brenda Devine

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Obituary for Jack "Chip" Geckeler

Jack "Chip" Geckeler 1946-2017

Jack "Chip" Geckeler

12/11/1946 - 09/27/2017

Jack "Chip" Geckeler, 70, of Westerville, Ohio, died Wednesday, September 27 at home surrounded by family and friends.  Chip was born on December 11, 1946 in Dayton, Ohio to his beloved parents John and Joanne (Grushon) Geckeler. He moved to Columbus when he was 11 and graduated from Columbus West in 1965.  After West, he graduated in 1969 from Franklin University with a business degree. When he finished serving active duty in the Air Force Reserves, he returned to Ohio State University earning his education degree in 1973 and later in 1983, a master’s  degree in education administration.  He started teaching elementary physical education at Hawthorne and Emerson Elementary Schools in Westerville, Ohio in the fall of 1973.  For the next 10 years, he taught elementary phys. ed. at those two schools plus Pointview and Annehurst.  Chip then entered administration in the Westerville system as vice-principal of Huber Ridge Elementary.  In 1986, he became principal of Whittier Elementary and four years later moved as principal to Mark Twain Elementary.  After 3 years at Mark Twain, he took a job with the State Department of Education as a consultant for the Division Early Learning for the next 15 years.  After his retirement, he later rejoined ODE as an auditor of preschool and latchkey programs.  He loved going out to school communities and being around the preschoolers and the administrators he grew to know.  He continued this work until his health prevented him from doing this job retiring for the final time in June of 2015.   In 1980, while teaching at Annehurst, he met the love of his life, Cheryl when she began teaching there.  They dated for three years marrying in October of 1983, much to his mother’s joy as she feared he would not find the right girl.  Chip and Cheryl shared many interests together especially a love of travel,touring the British Isles and their favorite destination, Italy.  They also vacationed in Hawaii, Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport Maine, and their yearly trips to Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head South Carolina.  In Ohio, they loved to visit the Amish Country staying frequently at the Inn at Honey Run.   In 2011, Cheryl was diagnosed with breast cancer.  During surgery, chemo, and radiation, Chip was a devoted and loving caregiver.  In 2013, Chip developed sepsis and it was Cheryl’s turn to be the “nurse”.  After recovering from sepsis, a year later he became ill again.  He was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.  For the next three years, Chip and Cheryl courageously faced his cancer with multiple treatments at OSU James Cancer Center.  He remained strong and positive believing their faith in the Lord would help him beat his cancer.  That miracle did not happen.  In May of this year, he entered into hospice care and his wish was to remain at home for his final days.  He passed gently in the arms of Cheryl, surrounded by loved ones.  Chip was preceded in death by parents John and Joanne Geckeler.  He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl, brother Douglas (Marilyn), nephew Mark (Katie) and grand nephews, Beau and Max, and nephew Brian (Kerrie) and grand nephew Gage and by their dog, Sophie.   Cheryl and the family would like to thank the caregivers at Ohio Health Hospice and Visiting Angels with much appreciation to their friends and neighbors for their many acts of kindness and love.  If you care to read more about his journey, a journal has been posted at caringbridge.com/visit/chipgeckeler5776.