March 23, 1943 – May 27,2025
If you’re reading this, it probably means Gordon Geissler has finally parked his beloved Honda Gold Wing for the last time and taken the off-ramp to the great beyond—no GPS required.
Born on March 23, 1943, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Gottfried “Fred” and Selma Geissler, Gordon arrived into this world with a sharp wit, a sharp mind, and—according to family legend—probably a roadmap in his diaper bag. An Eagle Scout in his youth, Gordon embodied loyalty, service, and an uncanny ability to fix things with duct tape and a well-placed pun.
After graduating from Strong Vincent High School and Grove City College, Gordon began his career as an English teacher, before realizing his true calling of teaching German. At Perkiomen Valley School District, he spent 32 years inspiring students, and served several years as president of the teachers’ union. In this role, he fought for what was right with sharp wit and sharper arguments, and made sure everyone had a seat at the table, preferably next to someone who could appreciate a bit of humor. He also started a life-changing German student exchange program which brought many students into his heart, including Peter and Ingo Eisenbarth, who became honorary sons and permanent members of the Geissler clan.
He was passionate about traveling wherever the open road led, and took many trips to Germany as well. He devoured the Philadelphia Inquirer, history books, and chocolate chip cookies with equal intensity. He was a die-hard fan of the Phillies and Eagles. But he was especially fond of Penn State Football, and attended a game annually for over 40 years with his “Penn State Crew,” five dear friends who knew the tailgate was almost as important as the game.
Gordon loved driving anything with wheels. Whether it was in a car, van, Klein bus, RV, or his Gold Wing motorcycle (with Pat bravely riding shotgun), he was always ready for a road trip, preferably one that ended with ice cream. He was a human GPS long before Siri showed up, and unlike her, he never lost signal.
Gordon was an active member of both the Gold Wing Road Riders of America (Director of Southeastern Region of PA for 3 years and district trainer for 3 years) and the Keystone Voyagers Kawasaki motorcycle group. He led rides, trained fellow riders, and somehow convinced people that helmets and humor went hand in hand. He was also a proud Kiwanian, serving three years as president of the Boyertown club.
In later years, winters found Gordon and Pat in Naples, Florida, where one of his proudest moments was delivering a stand-up comedy routine that left the crowd in stitches. He never missed a chance to crack a joke or groan-worthy dad quip. When diagnosed with Parkinson’s he changed the ringtone on his phone to “Whole Lot of Shakin Goin On.” Enough said.
He and Pat moved to Fredrick Living in 2020 where he was the mastermind behind “Storytime at Frederick,” an event he hosted with his signature blend of charm and cleverness. He loved entertaining and had a knack for finding the fun, even during life’s challenges.
Gordon is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Pat, who rode through life’s twists and turns by his side; his brother, John, and sister-in-law, Linda Geissler; his two sons, Gary and Ben Geisser, his two daughters, Karen Kuzyk and Lori Johnson; his sons/daughters-in-law, Todd Kuszyk, Heather Geissler, Alan Johson; and his adored grandchildren: Scott Johnson, Taylor Kuszyk, Marc Johnson, Sydney Kuszyk, Alyssa Geissler, Analia Geissler, and Siomari Geissler. He leaves behind a family who loved him dearly and friends too numerous to count. We will miss his jokes, his wisdom, his quick wit, and twinkle in his eye.
Ride on, Gordon. Your road was well traveled, and your journey well lived.
A celebration of life will be held for family and friends on July 19, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Fredrick Living, 2849 Big Road, Zeiglerville, PA 19492
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
P.O. Box 5014
Hagerstown, MD 21741
https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/489725/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22531189137&gbraid=0AAAAADvg9V9Yp6BiXBWMNFxOuuMpuTo4t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp4Tf1vHJjQMV3EZHAR349QjpEAAYASAAEgKq8_D_BwE#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=pmax&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=int_healthcharityinterests_us_18o_a-research&utm_campaign=PMax_Display_US_Fundraising_Q2FY25_May2025&c_src=smcidoc-a1bVL000004HPXZ
and
Fredrick Living, Benevolent Fund
2849 Big Road
Zeiglerville, PA 19492
https://frederickliving.org/charitable-giving/