Janet Sharon (Ellis) Geis, age 79, passed away peacefully last Tuesday, January 5th at Good Samaritan Hospital, following a month long battle with covid and pulmonary fibrosis. She was born in December 1941 in Detroit Michigan, the fourth daughter of nine children of Felix and Rady (Blake) Ellis. Janet graduated From Brookville High School and was married to James Geis in October of 1960.
Janet was a devout Catholic and member of St Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and was a long time member of the Daughters of Isabella. In her younger years she enjoyed volunteering at St. Michael School and was active in the Franklin County Homemakers and volunteered with the Girl Scouts. She was also a long standing member of the Brookville Womens Club. Also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Janet was proud to be a descendant of one of the four founding members of the DAR, Mary Desha.
Janet was a mother to many. Her home was always open for kids to come and use the phone and wait for a ride home. She would always say “If you can find it you can eat it, and if you can’t, you didn’t want it anyway.” Her easygoing hospitality belied the fact that she was an amazing cook and was generous with her time. Always up for an adventure, she was willing to drop everything and respond when she was needed. She always reassured everyone to forgive themselves and added “because I’m adorable and so are you.” Her positive presence, good advice and humor are the very definition of motherhood and she was the center of our family. We suffer her loss with profound sadness.
Janet is survived by her six children and their spouses, Dr. Laura M. Geis of Brookville, CAPT Randall J. (Lori) Geis of Lexington Park, Maryland, Jennifer A. (Edward) Strohmier of Brookville, Brian M. Geis of Regina SK Canada, Charles A. (Bernadette) Geis of Atlanta, Georgia, Angela S. Geis of Brookville, 14 grandchildren Sara Hyson, Amber Wilson, Nakeya Geis, Felix & Leisl Geis, Peter, Maddy, Matthew and Lara Geis, Sam, Celena and Brayden Strohmier, Mahto and Charlie Fast Horse; 1 great-grandchild, Kiley Hyson as well as her siblings Angela “Sue” (John) Linkel, Drusilla “Dotta” Masters, Mary Margaret “Herbie” Thomas, David “Butch” (Phyllis) Ellis, William (Brenda) Ellis, Richard (Barb) Ellis and sister-in-law, Corinne (Geis) Johnson, and over 40 nieces and nephews.
Besides her loving husband of 54 years James J Geis, she was preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Rady (Blake) Ellis, her parents-in-law, Anthony and Mary (Spaeth) Geis; siblings Betty (Ellis) Umfleet, Joan (Ellis) Davis; by her son-in-law Edward Strohmier; and by marriage William Davis, Charles Umfleet, Jerry Ruf, Jerry Masters, Randall “Mark” Thomas, Dale and Janet (Geis) Conwell, Harold and MaryAnne (Ratz) Geis, and Howard Johnson.
Reverend Vincent Lampert will officiate the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Brookville. Burial will then follow in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery in Brookville. Due to health and safety during this difficult time, there will be no visitation or funeral luncheon. The funeral can also be viewed online on the Brookville, Indiana Catholic Parishes YouTube channel. A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at a later time. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Michael School. The staff of Phillips & Meyers Funeral Home are honored to once again serve the Geis family, to sign the online guest book or send personal condolences please visit www.phillipsandmeyers.com .
