Joseph Raymond Geisler farmed all of his life until retirement in Bruce, Wisconsin. He then became a Certified Nursing Assistant and worked at Rusk County Memorial Hospital. His nephew Gary Geisler says, “Joe worked hard, saved his money and didn’t really do things for himself.” Joe could be seen all around Bruce, whether it was at St. Mary’s Church, a school board meeting, or riding around town on his bike. Everyone knew and talked to Joe on a regular basis. Prior to his death he selected charities that were important to him. They are:
- The Superior Diocese of the Catholic Church, for educational purposes.
- Bruce High School in northwestern Wisconsin, to fund scholarships for students who will be pursuing a college education.
- The Alzheimer’s Association, for research.
- The American Cancer Society, with a provision added in 2011 to allow the trust to be distributed to “local events such as the Relay for Life.”