Walter L. Geno Sr.

WALTER LEWIS GENO, SR. passed away Monday, November 20, 2023, with his wife, Shirley, and family at his side. Walt was 89 and was a lifelong resident of Washington, Michigan. He lived next to his parents' home. Walt and Shirley constructed their home, and additions were made over the years. The yellow barn from his parents' property was moved next to the home they built.

Walt and Shirley were married 68 years and raised a daughter and son. A hard worker, he would travel to Chicago when employment was challenging in the area. Early in the marriage, in helping his father, Alex, demolish a house, a high gust of wind collapsed the building on Walt, and he was hospitalized for a month with severe injuries. He had to teach himself how to walk again as physical therapy was not available. Walt then worked at Twist Drill in Rochester and later at Ford Proving Grounds near Romeo. In order to get a promotion, he took college courses to advance.

A skilled hunter and fisherman, he had a strong connection to the outdoors. It was important for him to ensure that there was food on the table. He would take his children on excursions to the cedar swamp river to fish for pike and bass. Summer vacations and hunt seasons were spent on property near Evart. He was adept at cutting wood and restored a wood stove that kept the home cozy in the chill of winter. Another restoration project was a Model T that was in pieces that he ended up turning into a depot hack. Wood from trees on the Geno family property was planked and seasoned to be used in the frame. Family and friends recount open air rides through the countryside with Walt honking the horn at passersby. His Model T won awards and complements from many. He restored another and sold that one. Playing guitar was another hobby he enjoyed and Walt was self-taught.

Walt appreciated his family and friends, and if someone needed help, he did what he could to make life easier for them. This included doing home checks when people were on vacation and providing firewood. Oftentimes in the winter, Walt could be seen plowing out neighborhood driveways. One year, he assisted in getting a trailer full of donations to a reservation in South Dakota as his daughter had taken on the challenge but had limited experience in jockeying such a load. He often inquired years later how the person on the reservation by the name of Pinky was doing and had a keen interest in what was needed to help. His love and respect for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren also ran deep.

Uncanny in his intuition, Walt often ended up being in the right spot at the right time and saved many people’s lives. This included a grand-nephew who nearly drown in a pool. He provided CPR while EMS was called, and the boy is now an adult with his own children. He also had a dream that prompted him to check on his brother-in-law, Ed, with persistence. Ed was close to death when Walt found him laying on the bathroom floor after suffering heart attacks and a stroke. Doctors later said that an hour longer, and Ed would not have survived. As a result, Ed had several more years of life. Once at a flea market, Walt rallied a crowd when someone was pinned under a car, and the car was lifted off the person through group effort.

Tender hearted, Walt took care of feral cats and adopted several. When his granddaughter rescued a feral cat and her kittens, Walt adopted Bootsie, a spunky kitten who grew up to be a comfort to him even on the last day he was struggling before going to the hospital.

Walt is survived by his wife, Shirley and children, Deb Geno and Walt Geno, Jr., grandchildren Amanda Geno, John Geno and spouse Ruby, and Sarah Geno-Mata and spouse Jason Mata, great-grandchildren Cole, Arya, and Ayden. He has an older brother, George, who resides in Alabama. He has many numerous nieces and nephews from both side of the family that he dearly loved. He is also survived by his cousin Dorothy Dome (nee Geer). Walt also has numerous cherished friends that he appreciated and cared about, loving them all for their kind hearts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Clara (Haase) Geno, his sisters Laura (Geno) Heisler, Frances (Geno) McBurney, and Juliann (Geno) Silkowski, and grandson, Bart Geno.

Donations in Walt's name can be made to Paradise Animal Rescue in Lapeer or to Mystery's Haven Inc. Many thanks to friends and family who have reached out and expressed their condolences.

The visitation will be held at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester on Monday, November 27, 2023, from 10 AM to 1 PM. A eulogy will be offered at 1 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pixleyfh.com for the Geno family.