The village of Beaver Crossing lost a community leader March 19 with the death of Dan Geis.
     "He will be sadly missed in his line of work and community spirit," Ray Gard, Beaver Crossing American Legion commander, said. "He was very outgoing and community-minded."
     Geis, 44, was the owner of Geis Electric, a member of the Goehner Volunteer Fire Department since 1982, founder of the Beaver Crossing Sons of American Legion and member of the Centennial School Board.
     He started out as an electrical apprentice to his brother-in-law Yogi Buss at Buss Electric, then worked for Shanahan Electrical and Mechanical from 1982 to 1991. He earned his journey-man's license in 1982 and his master electrician license in 1988.
     He started Geis Electric in 1991. His company worked on churches, schools and businesses and remodeled and updated the electrical system at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward.
     Geis and his siblings also set up a scholarship fund for softball players at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln following his sister Julie's death in the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
     Geis was instrumental in starting Beaver Crossing's Sons of American Legion (SAL) chapter in 2000, said Daryl Stevens, SAL Post Commander.
     SAL members have not served in the military but had fathers or grandfathers who had. Henke said the Beaver Crossing chapter has three or four with dual membership in the Legion and SAL.
     "He was a very active member," Stevens said. "It's a big hole to fill. He was always willing to help. He will be greatly missed."
     Rodger Henke, treasurer of the Sons of American Legion (SAL), described Geis as "a real good friend."
     Geis was very active in the SAL chapter, Henke said. Among the group's projects were the ballpark, sponsoring young men at Boys' State and helping support a baseball team along with the Legion and the fire department.
     "He was always at functions," Henke said. "There's no way you can replace him. We'll all have to take over duties that he did."
     The SAL bought a coffin flag for the funeral and presented it to the Geis family at the service, Henke said. They also served as color guard at the cemetery, Stevens said.
     "He was a big-time member," Henke said.
     In addition to serving in the SAL, Geis was a member of the Centennial School Board. He was elected to his third term in November, 2006.
     Dr. Brian Maher, Centennial superintendent, said Geis was easy to work with but held his coworkers to a high standard.
     "He never missed a meeting," he said. "He was a true leader."
     During his nine years on the Centennial board, Geis served as president twice. He was instrumental in moving forward with the recent bond issue for a new auditorium, Maher said.
     "It's really hard to put into words how big a loss Dan is to the whole school community," he said. "The passing of very few adults has the same impact."
     He said March 20 was a somber, melancholy day at Centennial High, where Geis's daughter Nichelle is a sophomore. Shannon is a CHS graduate and freshman at New York University.
     School was cancelled March 23 for the funeral service, which took place in the CHS gymnasium. Maher estimated that about 1,000 people attended, demonstrating Geis's influence in all areas of his life.
     "He had his fingers in so many things," Maher said. "The hole will be felt in many, many, many areas."
     Maher also knew Geis outside the school board and said he was an honest man, a good father and a good friend.
     "He was a great, great man," he said.