Obituaries

Damen Hunter Geisler was born on June 24, 1987 in Rexburg, Idaho, the 4th and last child born to Kirk and Sally Geisler. Damen claims to have grown up in “the best neighborhood in the world” of LaBelle, Idaho. This southeast Idaho community fostered his love for exploring outdoors, building tree houses, hiking, photography, riding bikes, birding, and making memories with friends and siblings.

Damen loved music from an early age. He spent countless hours listening to his mother's piano students; even figuring out how to play some of the songs by ear. Damen took lessons in piano, voice, and acting. One of his greatest musical achievements was being the drummer in “Days of the Weak” (a band of friends and cousins). During their high school years, “Days of the Weak” performed original music, recorded two albums, and would occasionally cover popular songs. Rocking out at Battle of the Bands in Idaho Falls and performing at a schoolteacher’s cancer fundraiser were two of Damen’s favorite gigs. During his college years, Damen transitioned to solo composing and recording as “Sepia Promise” and produced an original album.

Damen made friends of all ages and could talk to anyone. He was known for his kindness, quick smile, and loving nature. Damen loved books, often collecting more than he read as he valued printed writings. He was gifted at writing and expressing his own thoughts. One of Damen’s life goals was to publish his own book, inspired by his maternal grandfather. This goal was achieved in 2014 when Damen completed his collection of poems, songs, and short stories titled “A Leaf Can Never Stay.”

Damen loved being with his dad and happily became Kirk’s shadow when fishing, birding, or training the dogs. Like his dad and maternal grandfather, he became a knowledgeable birder. Damen had a strong bond with his siblings and was agreeable to whatever they wanted to play. When Damen was younger, he allowed his sisters to dress him up in anything and everything they wanted. Damen and his brother spent hours creating lego cars and then crashing them together. When Damen was growing up, nothing brought him more joy than cheering for his siblings: Josh on the basketball court and Sarah or Chrissy at gymnastics meets. Damen was fiercely proud of his siblings and their accomplishments. Damen was also close to his mom. Damen would call her often, discussing spiritual topics or politics. Damen was passionately opinionated about politics. Damen was very artistic and was a gifted photographer. Damen had his own “Thousand Words Photography” business and captured many special memories for others.

Damen graduated from Rigby High School in 2005. He remained a lifelong Rigby Trojan, wearing RHS gear and watching streamed sporting events even until the week he passed. Damen was a Boise State University fan and would defend those Broncos and smurf turf to anyone wanting to talk college football.

In 2006, Damen was called to serve in the Ohio Cincinnati mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before he was able to go, Damen turned yellow and was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. This autoimmune disease would alter the trajectory of his life and many years he spent more time sick than healthy. PSC destroyed Damen’s liver and he received his first liver transplant in October of 2007. Years of up and down health eventually led to a second liver transplant in March 2014. Among many other surgeries, medical complications, and countless hospital stays, Damen again found himself in End Stage Liver Failure due to Donor Mediated Rejection in April 2022.

During Damen’s medical trials, he attended Brigham Young University-Idaho and graduated with a degree in Communications in December 2011. Due to Damen’s varying health status, he has worked a variety of jobs. His final employer was Owens Corning, until April 2022 when he was no longer able to work.

Damen met Aleece Linthicum through a mutual friend in Idaho. Using the analogy of “Walking to Paris,” Damen and Aleece had many writings and memories of their courtship. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Fall Temple April 9, 2010 . After a year residing in Rexburg, Damen and Aleece moved to West Jordan, Utah. They later purchased their first home in West Jordan, Utah and welcomed their first child, Audrey, in 2013. Damen and Aleece moved to Ohio in August 2014 and later purchased a home in Perrysburg, Ohio. Their second child, Claire, was born in 2016. Gavin rounded out the trio of tiny humans in 2021.

Damen and Aleece have enjoyed sharing their love of Jesus Christ, silly humor, building with legos, hiking, and music with their 3 children. After almost 3 years of waiting on his third liver transplant, Damen elected to transition to hospice care. After only 13 days on hospice care, Damen passed away peacefully at home, holding his wife’s and father’s hands, on the evening of January 29, 2025.

Damen is survived by his wife, Aleece and three young children, Audrey, Claire and Gavin, of Perrysburg, Ohio. Also surviving are Damen’s parents Kirk and Sally and brother Joshua Geisler of LaBelle Idaho, sister-in-law Lindsey Geisler of Rigby, Idaho, sisters Sarah (Dustin) Dial of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Chrissy (Kent) Roylance of Moses Lake Washington. Additionally, Damen is survived by his 91-year-old grandmother, Nita Hunter of LaBelle, Idaho. Damen is survived by his 17 (soon to be 18) nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandparents Clyde and Inez Geisler and Donnell Hunter.

Friends and family will be received Friday, February 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary Street, Perrysburg (419-315-9770) where funeral services will be held at Noon. Burial will follow in Fort Meigs Union Cemetery. For those unable to attend the services, they will be livestreamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/Damen-Geisler.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the children’s college funds at www.ugift529.com. (Audrey = 41R-Y9F. Claire = 79M-W63. Gavin = F6K-84Y.)

The family extends their deepest thanks to organ donors everywhere, the healthcare professionals at University of Utah Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and Toledo Hospital, and all of the friends and family who have assisted with supporting and sustaining us over the years.

A memorial/celebration of life service will be held in Idaho on August 4, 2025. Details will be announced as the date comes closer. Condolences may be made online to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.

Condolences may be made to the family online at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.