Francis Geels, 86, Over Jordan

Francis Geels passed away after an extended illness, April 11, 2011 at home. Francis was a fixture at all NIBGA festivals. We first met him at Ottawa, OH at the reunions. We had the biggest camp fire on the grounds. Francis would come by around midnight after other jams had quit. It wouldn't be long until our jam was fired up again with him leading the way on the fiddle.

He and his family band, The Geels Family, played many Kendallville and before festivals. He was a renowned fiddle player and played with numerous other groups including Joe Taylor & The Redbirds and Fiddler & Sis. He taught the fiddle with Master Artist Apprenticeship Program. He also made and repaired string instruments.

This picture was taken at our winter jams at the Southwest Conservation club.

Full obituary information is available at Haggard,Sefton & Hirschy Funeral Home in Decatur, IN