George passed away peacefully in his home.
At a young age, George’s life was marked by the sudden death of his father who was hit by a Chicago streetcar. George, his older brother and their mother lived behind the family’s hat shop in downtown Milwaukee and rode out the Depression as best they could. When George was in his early teens, the family moved to southern California where his mom remarried. George attended high school with such future celebrities as Alan Ladd, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. During WW II, George attempted to enlist in the Army but was turned down because he had an overbite. He was drafted and accepted by the Marines and served during the latter half of WW II and the Korean War as an aircraft mechanic aboard a Bay Class carrier. After the war, he took advantage of the GI Bill and graduated from Cal Poly, San Dimas. Right out of college he was recruited as a USDA food inspector and served 30 years. George moved to Gilroy in 1959 and worked in many local canneries including Cal-Can in Gilroy. Upon retirement in the mid 1980s, George had a very active life. He was active at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, American Legion Post 217, Sons In Retirement, Cub Scouts and local Masonic clubs. George loved to tell jokes to all who dared to listen. For many decades he was a fixture at local junior high promotion ceremonies as the American Legion award presenter, one of the highest honors the organization bestows. George has been reunited his beloved wife, Emilie, and his brother. He is survived by his four sons and beloved daughter-in-laws: Bill and Karen (Maryland), Glenn and Cindy (Arizona), Wayne and Tess (Illinois), and Curt and Wendy (Gilroy). He had a number of beloved grandchildren: Crystal (Arizona), Ansley, Michael, Katy (Florida), and Trent (Gilroy). In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation made in George’s name to Gilroy Presbyterian Church, St Joseph’s Center, or any Shriner’s Hospital. A celebration of George’s life will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 17 at Gilroy Presbyterian Church.
