Bruno Geiss

Bruno R. Geiss, 93, of 114 Greenbriar Road, formerly of Brazil, died Thursday, July 16, 2009, at his home. Born April 14, 1916, in Ijui, Brazil, he was the son of the late Roberto and Dorotea Hochwart Geiss. He was the founder of Geiss & Sons Jewelers and a member of St. John�½s Lutheran Church. Bruno immigrated to the United States with his family in 1964 and settled in Spartanburg for less than a year before moving to New York and working in the jewelry district in Manhattan. After a couple of years, he decided to move back to Spartanburg and, with son Carlos, opened Geiss & Son Jewelers downtown in 1968. Sons Paulo and Fernando eventually joined the family business, and in 1977 the business moved to its current location on East Main Street. The business gradually expanded and now has locations in Charleston, Greenville, and Hilton Head. Bruno continued to work at the Spartanburg store until shortly before his death. Survivors include his wife, Alzira Feldmann Geiss; two daughters, Ruth Geiss, and Carolyn Stephens and her husband Adam, all of Spartanburg; three sons, Carlos Geiss and his wife Sonia of Spartanburg and Hilton Head, Paulo Geiss and his wife Beth of Charleston, and Fernando Geiss and his wife Rose-Marie of Greenville; and grandchildren, Christopher, Andrew, and Hunter Geiss (children of Carlos), Courtney Geiss (daughter of Paulo and Beth), Gabriel and Jonathan (sons of Rose-Marie), and Lindsay, Hayden, and Emma Stephens (children of Carolyn). Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2009, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2009, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel conducted by the Rev. Dr. Boyd F. Cook. Entombment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Spartanburg Humane Society, 150 Dexter Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303. The family is at the home. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bruno R. Geiss please visit our Sympathy Store.