Mona Rae Geisinger was born on May 17, 1952, to parents Robert and Rachel (Krause) Geisinger in Fort Dodge, IA, the eldest of eight children. She grew up and went to school in Sac City and graduated from Sac City High School with the class of 1970. She went on to attend beauty school at La’ James International College and worked as a beautician for many years. In 1984, Mona graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista College. She obtained her Master of Education degree from Morningside College. She taught in Battle Creek, IA, for over twenty years before teaching in Lytton, IA, for the Rockwell City – Lytton/SCC School District. Most recently she worked as a substitute teacher for the East Sac County Community School District.
On September 1, 1973, Mona married Lowell Larson. Their union was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Michelle and Melissa, and then seven grandchildren and a great-grandson, all of whom she loved dearly. Family meant everything to Mona. She was an incredibly supportive mom and grandma who loved attending her kids' and grandkids' special events and just spending time with them in general.
Mona knew Wendall Schulte, a long-time friend who she began dating in 1982. After fifteen fun-filled years together, the couple finally said “I Do” on April 8, 1997, at an intimate ceremony held in South Dakota. Over the years, Mona and Butch attended many cars shows together…whether they were heading the event up, entering their own classic cars, or just there to look at everyone else’s cars, it was something they both thoroughly enjoyed doing together.
Mona was a member of the First Christian Church in Sac City. She was a mentor for the Sac County Mentoring Program where she connected with and helped many different children over the years. She also volunteered her time annually at the Sac County Relay for Life event as well as at the Sac County Fair.
When she wasn’t in the classroom, Mona loved crafting including scrapbooking, attending craft shows, and making very intricate Christmas ornaments that she then gifted to others. She also had a large collection of porcelain dolls; this was something her mother and she both enjoyed collecting. During the warmer months, you could find Mona outside tending to her garden or taking long walks with Daisy.
As mentioned above, Mona loved her family dearly and she enjoyed more than anything, spending time with them. Since she was the eldest of eight, she was often in charge of planning the family get-togethers. Her nieces and nephews will never forget the $2 bills she faithfully sent them every year on their birthdays. Mona mailed cards to each of her loved ones for every holiday/special event….something that they all looked forward to receiving.
Everything about Mona will be missed…..her smile, kind heart, dancing spirit, and genuine love she showed to all. May she rest eternally in God’s Beautiful Paradise.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters Michelle Snyder of Spencer, IA, and Melissa Langbein of Sac City, IA; grandchildren: Kali (fiancé Colton), Ceaira, Delaney, Rachel, Nicole (fiancé Tim), Brandon, and Joe; great-grandson Elvis; siblings: Rosa (Bobby) Young of Elk Grove, CA, LuAnne (Steve) Shelley of Stuart, IA, Bobby Geisinger of Lawton, IA, Rita (Roger) Koontz of Wellston, OK, August (Rita) Geisinger of Des Moines, IA, and Kaye (Gerrid) Otto of Odebolt, IA; brother-in-law Ted (Linda) Schulte of Sac City, IA; sister-in-law Marilyn Irwin of Cabot, AR; and many other extended family members and friends.
Mona was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Rachel Geisinger; sister Cindra Kae Geisinger; son-in-law Al Snyder; and husband Wendall Schulte in May of 2020.
