Obituary for Karen Geiger Johnson

Karen Geiger Johnson passed away on November 7th, just a week shy of her 69th birthday, after a quarter century long battle with cancer of various forms.

 

She is survived by her beloved sons Andy and Ben, as well her loving partner Dave Sanders, his children Sara, Scott (Bonnie), and Jeff (Laura), as well as grandchildren twins Jocelyn and Devin, and their older sister Corinne. Becoming, “Grandma Karen,” was among the greatest joys in her life, and their presence in her life provided a warm light over the end of her days .Karen is also survived by brother Gene Geiger, sister Beverly (Jeff) Lepley, 3 nephews, Matthew and Jay Lepley, Grant Geiger, nieces Stephanie Eisenhauer, Cassie, Jennifer, Tess and Brooke Geiger and niece and Goddaughter Cynthia(Anthony) Brown. Karen was also the loving Aunt of Great Nephews Austin Eisenhauer, Isaac & Trip Lepley and Great Nieces Caitlyn Eisenhauer, Ariana, Maleena & Ariah Lepley and Anna Brown .

 

Born to the late Charles and Ruth (Weber) Geiger and raised in Bellevue, Ohio. She earned a Bachelors in Education degree from Bowling Green University, and went on to earn her Masters from The Ohio State University. She taught Kindergarten and as a reading specialist for many years in Delaware City Schools, mainly at Conger Elementary. There she touched the lives of countless students and fellow teachers, and bestowed the gift of literacy upon all within her reach. Karen was a gifted educator and always kept everyone supplied with books, most with her picture on the back, to be treasured always 

 

Between 1995 and 2000 she defeated cancer 3 times. She did so with little complaint, while maintaining both her career and motherhood. She survived the next years under the anxieties of yearly exams and the dread of the eventual bad news. When that news came, in 2017, she faced it with a strength and a grace not often seen. With the support of her medical team, as well her family and friends, she found every ounce of joy available in undeniably difficult times, and found five more years to spend with her family.. She loved and was loved by many, and she will be sorely missed.