William Geatz

William "Bill" Robert Geatz, age 87, of Fargo, passed away on April 15, 2025, after having struggled with Alzheimer's for several years, and shortly after his beloved wife, Marge.

Bill was born on March 10, 1938 in Grand Forks, ND to Adam and Clarice (Bergan) Geatz. Bill was raised in the Catholic faith and grew up playing various sports. Bill enlisted in the Navy and while in the Navy, when into the electrical field. One summer, Bill had come hom eon leave and met Marjorie Thurlow, who would become his wife. They married in Las Vegas on the way back from San Diego. Bill and Marge came back to Grand Forks with their two sons, David and Michael. Bill had a variety of careers, which included being a Grand Forks police officer and eventually a Postal Worker. Bill was a letter carrier for many years before moving into a Supervisory position, which moved the family to Thief River Falls, MN, down to Roy, Utah, and later our to Olympia, WA.

Grand Forks kept calling the family home and they moved back to Grand Forks where Bill tried his hand at becoming an insurance salesman for Mutual of New York and signed up with the National Guard. The summer of 1980, the family would move to Tioga, in the western part of North Dakota, to the booming Oil Fields. Bill spent many years in Tioga working in a shop repairing oil field rigs and equipment. When the oil field slowed down, they moved to Bismarck, where Bill went full time with the National Guard and began to explore the idea of becoming a Real Estate agent. Eventually, Bill made one last move and that would be to Fargo, ND where they could be closer to Marge's sister and extended family, as their family had grown up and started lives of their own. Bill finally became a realtor and loved selling homes and property! Bill started his own real estate agency called Star Realty. He was very proud of that life accomplishment.

Bill spent a few years doing easement work, before he retired and was able to spend more time at the lake place they had for many years. Bill lived with Alzheimer's his last 10 years of life and Marge took GREAT care of his every need. However, in December of 2024 Marge would be diagnosed with a returning cancer that had metastasized and she would become terminally ill with just weeks to live. Once again, they packed up, only this time it was just a few bags of personal belongings. They would ride with their daughter and son-in-law out to Tioga where Natalie and Curtis could better care for both of them in their last days living with them.

Sadly, Marge passed away on March 17th and shortly thereafter, on April 15th, Bill passed away, surrounded by family. Bill had just turned 87.

Bill is survived by his son, David (Pam) of Bluffton, SC; son, Michael, of Zambia and San Diego, CA; daughter, Natalie (Curtis) Bugbee of Tioga, ND; son, Paul (Cindy) of Pine River, MN; along with 13 grandkids and 23 great-grandkids.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Karen and brother-in-law, Elmer Dokken; brother, Alan, and sister-in-law Carol McDonald and brother-in-law, Don 'Mick' McDonald, and lastly, Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife, Marge, of 63 years.

Bill chose to be cremated with no formal service. There will be a small burial life celebration, in Fargo, along with Marge on July 24, 2025.