Marjorie Anne Karl Geise

ALLEGANY — Marjorie Geise of Allegany died Saturday (Jan. 24, 2026) at her home, after an illness.

Born July 14, 1943, “Marge” was the daughter of Raymond and Kathleen Hirt Karl of Allegany.

She graduated from Allegany Central School in 1961 and from SUNY Fredonia in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. On July 3, 1965, at St. Bonaventure Church in Allegany, she married Harold Geise, who survives.

She taught fifth grade at Arcade Central School from 1965-1966 and was a substitute teacher for several local schools while raising her children. In 1976, she resumed her teaching career with a position at Franklinville Central School as a remedial reading teacher. The following year, she became a fourth grade teacher at Franklinville, a position she held for the next 23 years. She was an active member of the Franklinville Teachers’ Association, serving as an officer and executive board member for many years.

She helped establish the Allegany-Cattaraugus Social Studies Council and served as its president for 10 years. Marge was inducted into Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (an international society for women educators) in 1993 and remained an active member for several years.

After her retirement in 2000, she continued to devote her life to children’s causes. She served as chair of the local Character Counts! Coalition for seven years, where she spearheaded the national “American Youth Character Awards” campaign for young people from Allegany and Cattaraugus County schools. Marge was also active in the Allegany-Limestone Academic Boosters for over 11 years, serving as its president for four years. She was also a board member of the Allegany Central School Alumni Association. Both of these groups recognized academic excellence and awarded scholarships to deserving students.

Marge was a long-time member of the Allegany Area Historical Association and served as its vice president for many years. She was a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program from 2000-2020.

Her hobbies included reading, scrapbooking, attending SBU men’s and women’s basketball games, watching the Buffalo Bills, traveling and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years; and her three children, Tom (Lori) Geise of Ilion, Penny (Rick) Owen and Kelly (Dave) Volz of Allegany; as well as eight grandchildren, Megan (Stephen) Felter of Olean, Jessica Owen of Fairport, Jacob Owen of Allegany, Katie Volz of Buffalo, Erica and Matthew Volz of Allegany and Daisy and Emily Geise of Ilion. Also surviving are her brother, Duane (Cindy); and sisters, Donna (Bob) Wenzel, Eileen (Don) Bigler and Nancy Crawford, all of Allegany. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; brothers-in-law, Dennis Crawford and Lyle Allen; sisters-in-law, Kathy Allen and Beverly Geise; and niece, Traci Geise.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 1, 2026) at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 2, 2026) at St. Bonaventure Church, Allegany. Fr. David Blake, OFM, will be the celebrant.  Burial will follow in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, WNY Chapter, 2805 Wehrle Drive, Suite 12, Williamsville, NY 14221, (http://www.parkinson.org/westernnewyork); or to the Allegany Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 162, Allegany, NY 14706.