William “Bill” Melvin Geske, age 87, of Wabasso, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at St. Cloud Hospital. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Willow Lake Township with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in Wabasso. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

William Melvin Geske was born October 5, 1938, to Emil and Anna (Kruse) Geske in Belview, Minnesota. He was baptized October 16, 1938, and confirmed June 6, 1954, at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wabasso. Bill graduated in 1956 from Wabasso Public High School. He enlisted in the Army and while in Germany, worked as a radio repair technician. Bill served in the military for two years, after which he earned an honorable discharge in 1963. He returned to the Wabasso area and met the love of his life, Audrey Ann Timm. The two were married on May 21, 1966, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lamberton. Together, they lived on a farm Northwest of Lamberton. Bill worked for Maguire Iron, out of Sioux Falls, where he performed water tower repair until 1980. He found interest in farming and worked on the farm until 2000. Bill and Audrey moved to Wabasso in September of 2009. Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, especially activities with his grandkids and great-grandkids. For many years Bill would have breakfast uptown with the guys every morning, sitting around the “The table of knowledge”. You could also find him in his vegetable garden, working in his woodshop, or putting jigsaw puzzles together.

Bill is survived by his wife, Audrey Geske of 60 years; children: Jane Geske of Wabasso, Jenny (Frank) Seikora of Wabasso, & Jay (Jocelyn) Geske of Lamberton; grandchildren: Justin Seikora, Ashley (Thomas) Haler, William Seikora, Anna (special friend Travet Krause) Seikora, Aaron (Autumn Miller) Geske, & Madelyn (special friend Griffin Willhite) Geske; 5 great-grandchildren: Bentley, Ryker & Jennie Haler; and Brynlee & Jaxton Geske; sister-in-law, Ollie Geske of Willmar; and many other relatives & friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings: Louis, Gilbert, Marvin, Edna Tyler, Lorraine Hammerschmidt, Linus, Delores Lemcke, Lorance, Fredrick and Mary Ann Trebesch.