Arthur Gerald “Gerry” Geistweidt was born on January 20, 1948, to Arthur Frank and Anna Marie Geistweidt. A fourth generation Mason resident, Gerry was born in San Antonio and raised in Mason until he graduated from Mason High School in 1966.
In 1970, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. He was president of the Texas A&M Student Body and Student Senate, was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, a Distinguished Student, a Distinguished Military Graduate, and a nominee for Outstanding ROTC Graduate in the nation. During his senior year, he was awarded special recognition by President Nixon for his activities in student government.
After graduation, he was a staff member on the Texas House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and served on the Governor’s Crime and Narcotics Advisory Commission.
Gerry spent two years in active duty with the U.S. Army, from which he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. He is a recipient of the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and obtained military specialties in military intelligence, infantry, mechanized infantry, and armored cavalry. He served as an intelligence officer on 4th Division Staff and during his last year of service was the commander of the U.S. Army Mounted Color Guard and Drill Team stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. He authored the Drill Manual that the Army later used to train the Mounted Calvary.
In 1975, he graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity, the Faculty Evaluation Committee and the Student Bar Association. After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Mason, Texas, to run the family ranch and practice law. He served on the local school board and was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Citizen of Mason County.
Gerry was admitted to practice before the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, and the U.S. Tax Court. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1979 and served until 1989. At various times, he served on the Natural Resources Committee, the State Affairs Committee, the Local and Consent Calendars Committee, the House General Investigation Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee, and acted as vice chairman or chairman of budget and oversight for a number of those committees. He was a founder and president of the Texas Conservative Coalition and a member of the Mexican American Caucus. His legislation included abolishment of the state inheritance tax, strengthening of criminal laws, welfare reform legislation and numerous pieces of legislation concerning water resources. He served on the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. During his brief legislative career he was recognized by many diverse groups for his contributions to fiscal and regulatory restraint in government and his support of traditional family values.
He was a member and elder of River of Life Church of Mason. He loved being at the ranch, reading, fishing and being on his boat, and playing the guitar. He will be remembered as someone who loved and served the Lord his whole life and who was devoted to his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, and the love of his life, Tess. He is also survived by his three daughters, Rene Ince, and husband Dave, of Mason, Rebekah Whitworth, and husband Jared of Mason, and Mandy Schuh, and husband Nathan of Spring, Texas, his sister Gaelyn Fisher and husband Neil of Fredericksburg along with his four grandchildren, Will Ince, Walker Ince, Anna Marie Whitworth, and Elizabeth Whitworth.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to River of Life Church Missions, the American Heart Association or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
These words were originally written about his father, but seem equally fitting for Gerry. “We, the members of his family, who write these remarks, realize they may sound boastful. But we dearly loved Daddy as we know he loved us. He no longer walks among us, yet his memory and his influence will never be absent from our lives. He died as he had lived–courageously and strong in his faith.” Like his father before him, Gerald was buried with his boots, the ones that no one else could fill.
Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net.
Visitation was held Friday evening, August 16 at Mason Funeral Home. Celebration of Life was Saturday, August 17 at the River of Life. Private burial services were held at Gooch Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.
Arthur Gerald “Gerry” Geistweidt was born on January 20, 1948, to Arthur Frank and Anna Marie Geistweidt. A fourth generation Mason resident, Gerry was born in San Antonio and raised in Mason until he graduated from Mason High School in 1966.
In 1970, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. He was president of the Texas A&M Student Body and Student Senate, was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, a Distinguished Student, a Distinguished Military Graduate, and a nominee for Outstanding ROTC Graduate in the nation. During his senior year, he was awarded special recognition by President Nixon for his activities in student government.
After graduation, he was a staff member on the Texas House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and served on the Governor’s Crime and Narcotics Advisory Commission.
Gerry spent two years in active duty with the U.S. Army, from which he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. He is a recipient of the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and obtained military specialties in military intelligence, infantry, mechanized infantry, and armored cavalry. He served as an intelligence officer on 4th Division Staff and during his last year of service was the commander of the U.S. Army Mounted Color Guard and Drill Team stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado. He authored the Drill Manual that the Army later used to train the Mounted Calvary.
In 1975, he graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity, the Faculty Evaluation Committee and the Student Bar Association. After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Mason, Texas, to run the family ranch and practice law. He served on the local school board and was selected by the Chamber of Commerce as Outstanding Citizen of Mason County.
Gerry was admitted to practice before the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, and the U.S. Tax Court. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1979 and served until 1989. At various times, he served on the Natural Resources Committee, the State Affairs Committee, the Local and Consent Calendars Committee, the House General Investigation Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee, and acted as vice chairman or chairman of budget and oversight for a number of those committees. He was a founder and president of the Texas Conservative Coalition and a member of the Mexican American Caucus. His legislation included abolishment of the state inheritance tax, strengthening of criminal laws, welfare reform legislation and numerous pieces of legislation concerning water resources. He served on the Southern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments. During his brief legislative career he was recognized by many diverse groups for his contributions to fiscal and regulatory restraint in government and his support of traditional family values.
He was a member and elder of River of Life Church of Mason. He loved being at the ranch, reading, fishing and being on his boat, and playing the guitar. He will be remembered as someone who loved and served the Lord his whole life and who was devoted to his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, and the love of his life, Tess. He is also survived by his three daughters, Rene Ince, and husband Dave, of Mason, Rebekah Whitworth, and husband Jared of Mason, and Mandy Schuh, and husband Nathan of Spring, Texas, his sister Gaelyn Fisher and husband Neil of Fredericksburg along with his four grandchildren, Will Ince, Walker Ince, Anna Marie Whitworth, and Elizabeth Whitworth.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to River of Life Church Missions, the American Heart Association or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
These words were originally written about his father, but seem equally fitting for Gerry. “We, the members of his family, who write these remarks, realize they may sound boastful. But we dearly loved Daddy as we know he loved us. He no longer walks among us, yet his memory and his influence will never be absent from our lives. He died as he had lived–courageously and strong in his faith.” Like his father before him, Gerald was buried with his boots, the ones that no one else could fill.
Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net.
Visitation was held Friday evening, August 16 at Mason Funeral Home. Celebration of Life was Saturday, August 17 at the River of Life. Private burial services were held at Gooch Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.
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