[3] He grew up in the Washington, D.C., area[3] and attended St. John's College High School.

[3] During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.

[3][7] After leaving the military, he moved to Minneapolis, where he began his retail career working for Dayton's.

[3] In 1975, he "retired" from Mays and Venture, and became chairman of the struggling Ayr-Way Stores in Indianapolis.

[1] Sam Walton, who often consulted Geisse, called him "a pioneer in innovative retailing concepts".