Thomas Arthur Geib, age 62, died Friday, Dec.15.
He spent his last few days with family and friends by his side after a long battle with lung disease. He appreciated all the well wishes from everyone, especially the friends he grew up with in Burnips and his friends at the Wayland Hotel Bar and Grill.
He made an impact on everyone he met. Tom could find humor in any situation and was still making jokes to the very end. Tom was also a giving person. He was thinking of others and donated organs to Gift of Life Michigan.Tom was born on Feb. 21, 1961. Most people knew him by his nickname “Skeeba.” He lived most of his life in Allegan County, growing up in Burnips and graduated from Hamilton High School.
He has spent the past 15+ years living in Wayland above the Wayland Hotel and Bar, where he developed many close friendships with his neighbors and the staff who worked at the bar. Tom’s passions included collecting arrowheads and antique bottles, metal detecting, hunting, and drinking Budweiser from the can.Tom is survived by his sister Gayle (Jim) Freiburger; nephews Brian (Brenda) Geib, Tyson (Nikki) Geib, Regis (Jayia) Geib, Ryan (Jen) Freiburger, and nieces Michelle (Rick) Hazen, and Meredith (Paul) Borkowski and many cousins and great nieces and nephews.Tom was preceded in death by his parents George and Treasure Geib, brother George B. Geib, Gloria “Sissy” Geib, and nephew Lewis Dane Geib.Tom has requested no funeral service. Instead, Tom wanted a “kegger in a cornfield.” His celebration of life will be held at a later date. All family and friends will be invited to share stories and memories of Skeeba.
Tom had a favorite saying, and it really applies to his life “By God, I went to soon, mister!”