Helen Geiger

Helen Geiger (1910-1980), a native of North Dakota, came to Wisconsin at the age of six. She earned a degree in home economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1931. After teaching at Fennimore, Beloit, Two Rivers, and Antigo, Helen came to Winnebago County as Home Demonstration Agent. On a volunteer basis, she began work with the UW Oshkosh Alumni Association in 1953, serving as executive director. The “office” of the association was first located in the Geiger home before moving to campus in 1959. Helen became a member of the UW Oshkosh staff in 1964 as alumni director. She was also a long-time active member in the American Association of University Women and served as state president of the group from 1955 to 1957 and on the national committee from 1957 to 1961.

Helen established the Warner Geiger Geography Merit Award in memory of her husband in 1977.

Dr. Warner Geiger (1898-1976), a native of Oshkosh, graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1923. He taught at the junior high school in Fond du Lac from 1923 to 1928. He went on to earn his law degree from Vanderbilt University in 1931 and returned to Oshkosh to practice law. Warner didn’t stay away from teaching for long. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UW Oshkosh in 1934 and a master’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin in 1936. From then until his retirement in 1968, Warner was a member of the UW Oshkosh staff, teaching in the fields of geography, political science, law, and economics. He also served the University as newspaper advisor, extension teacher, parking director, in campus planning, and as an alumni association director and treasurer.