He will be lovingly remembered by his beloved wife Sharon, son Ward, daughter Carmen, brother Richard (Bernice) and sister Frieda Klapprat along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Fred and mother Johanna, brothers Art and Walter and sisters Edna Fuerst, Myrtle Hladun and Martha (Suzy) Balness.
George was born on the homestead near Grahamdale and worked hard through his youth, helping with the chores and learning important life skills such as farming, hunting and fishing. Back then, transportation was primarily on foot or horseback and he became adept at navigating through the rugged bush.
George came to Winnipeg in 1955 and worked for Bird Construction for a short time before spending the rest of his 33-year career at Canada Packers. On weekends, George would frequently head back out to the country and socialize with family and friends. It was along the highway, in 1961, that George met the love of his life, Sharon, who was travelling out to the country with a friend. She fell in love with that tall, handsome man in the sleek, powerful 1959 Ford Galaxy. They married on June 20, 1964 and started a family a few years later, welcoming their son, Ward, and daughter Carmen.
George had a natural talent for music; he could easily master songs by ear without having to read the musical notation. He favoured classic country and gospel and played the violin, banjo, dobro, acoustic guitar and mandolin.
He eagerly anticipated hunting season for moose and deer – George was an excellent shot! During the winter, his ice fishing shack could be seen on Lake Manitoba at Steep Rock. In 1985, he bought a small house in Moosehorn which served as base camp and the de facto family cottage until 2007.
After the closure of the Canada Packers plant in 1988, George retired and immediately kept himself busy with carpentry. Without any formal training, he designed and constructed a wrap-around deck for the house in Moosehorn along with a gazebo for the backyard. They were ideal for enjoying beverages under a starlit sky or for relaxing on a warm summer afternoon.
George kept his mind sharp by following current affairs, completing crossword puzzles and cryptoquotes, and playing along at home with Wheel of Fortune, where he would usually solve the puzzles before the contestants. He also maintained a small garden where he grew various produce. His amazing tomatoes were very popular with Sharon, friends and neighbours.
George was a big man with an even bigger heart and he will be deeply missed by so many people. He was a long-standing congregant of the Lutheran Church and his faith in God guided him in life. This was especially evident after his diagnosis with cancer in February.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 03, 2024, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 401 Kildare Ave West, at 1:00PM with reception to follow.
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