Great-grandmother, teacher, friend to many

“With full hearts, we remember and celebrate our dear Margaret Ann Geerken who passed away on December 4, 2025,” her family shared.

She was born to Dorothy and Russell Steele on September 16, 1938. The family was living in Panama at the time and as Americans, her birth certificate needed to be signed by an American Embassy official.

As providence would have it, that signature came from a man who would later become her father-in-law. In fact, she met the love of her life, John Geerken, in Japan when they attended the same high school. “Their paths were destined to intersect as they crisscrossed the globe with their respective families staying in similar places at the same time,” her family said.

She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University where she studied to become a teacher. She enjoyed teaching elementary school children and later worked in real estate. “An early scrape with cancer shifted her focus toward God and her spiritual expression was in loving people,” her family said. “She was endlessly curious and interested in the lives of her family and friends. She loved to host gatherings and encourage magical interactions between her guests. There were no strangers in her life — she made friends wherever she went.”

Her love lives on through her husband John; children Laura Grello, Andrew Geerken, Deborah Day and Catherine Quinn; sons-in-law Frank Grello and Robert Quinn; daughter-in-law Karen Geerken; eleven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

“She will be missed by many, but she will continue to shine in our hearts,” her family said.

A Jacaranda tree will be planted in her honor at Higginbotham Park in Claremont.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her honor to The Claremont Healing Rooms at claremonthealingrooms.org/donate, or by check to 671 W. Arrow Hwy., Claremont, CA 91711.