Juanita P. Geary

Juanita P. Geary, age 94 of Mankato and formerly of Kasota, passed on Monday, June 26, 2023 at Brookdale Living.

Memorial service will be 1:00pm Saturday, July 1, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, Kasota with visitation at noon. 

Juanita Pearl was born the first of nine children on November 27, 1928 to Guy and Francis Burk. 

She was a hard worker. She worked as a catering manager at MSUMankato and had the opportunity to meet many famous people;mostly remembering being the first cook for the Minnesota Vikingswhen they came for training camp. She remarked, “They were quite a group!” and she got to see their fun side. Juanita later managed two motels for 10 years before receiving her boiler license; managing and maintaining class 2 boilers. She spent 18 years working for MRCI and finally for the ECHO Food Shelf. She loved to crochet; making lap robes, pillow cases, cancer caps and stocking caps for DAV. If you asked her, she would tell you she had a very fulfilling life. 

Juanita is survived by children: Fred (Candy) Olson and Dean (Barb) Olson; step children: Bob (Donna) Atteo, Sam (Jeanette) Reinke, Dale (Beverly) Knaack, and Mike (Diane) Geary; 19 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; siblings: Arlo, Arlean and Arlys; and other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death are husband Glenn, daughter Judy; sisters: Barbara, Genevieve and Yvonne; and brothers: Benny and Chucky.