George Michael Weber

George M. Weber, Jr of Arlington Heights, died November 7, 2022, at the age of 91. Dorothy, his wife of 69 years, was at his side. He was born in Chicago to George M. Weber, Sr. and Marie (Knapp) Weber in 1931.

In 1956 George and Dorothy moved to the suburbs - first to Rolling Meadows and then to Arlington Heights in 1961.

George was a businessman his entire life. He had a 26-year career with General Telephone and Directory Company in Des Plaines rising from general accountant to Vice president-Controller where he oversaw the accounting, data processing, and budget departments and was responsible for financing, rate cases, purchasing, and administrative services as well as functional responsibility for overseas accounting.

After retiring from the Directory Company in 1983, George and Dorothy created Anita's Cards and Gifts to operate Anita's Hallmark in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood which allowed George to fulfill his dream of owning his own business. They ran this enterprise for ten years.

Prior to joining the Directory Company, George enlisted in the Army National Guard joining Company C 131st Infantry in June 1950 as a private first class rifleman from which he was honorably discharged the following June. In July 1951, he enlisted in the Air National Guard joining the 606th Communication Construction Squadron Eighth Communications Group. He was variously assigned to O'Hare Air Force Base in Illinois, Donaldson AFB in Greenville, South Carolina, and Clovis AFB in New Mexico. George served as senior clerk/clerk typist, attaining the rank of first class and received an honorable discharge in 1953.

George and Dorothy met on a blind date; they dated for several years before marrying in May of 1953. Over the next decade George attended Northwestern University night school from which he earned both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration while building his family and his career.

George first travelled overseas with the Directory Company which sent him to Asia, Australia, and Central America. He and Dorothy later went to Ireland and England and then travelled throughout the United States to attend Elder Hostel programs and visit their children.

After closing Anita's Hallmark, George embarked on third career - one in civic service that emphasized assistance to the senior community, particularly in the areas of tax preparation and Medicare navigation. He served as the state coordinator for the AARP Health Advocacy Services and was a member of AARP's State Leadership Council and the Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care Consumer Advisory Council. In Arlington Heights, he served on the Senior Citizen's Commission for 18 years, as the Senior Health Insurance Program coordinator for over a decade, and as co-founder and officer of Arlington Heights Senior Center, Inc. In 2004, George was honored with the Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold "Young at Heart" award and named SHIP Coordinator of the Year. The following year he was named the Arlington Heights Elks Club Citizen of the Year. He was also the Arlington Heights Senior Center Volunteer of the Year.

George is survived by his wife Dorothy A. (Martin) Weber; his four children - Anita Weber of Maryland, Catherine Woods and Joan Weber Kennedy (Craig) of Wisconsin and Michael Weber (Christina Liu) of California; five grandchildren - Matthew Fournelle (Anna), Christina Fournelle Landgraf (Gary), Emma Kennedy (James Hughes), Brian Kennedy, and Angela Liu Weber; and eleven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers William and Daniel of Illinois and sister Elizabeth "Betty Mae" of California; sisters-in-law Nancy Torgerson (Dick) of Illinois and Adrienne Clark of Indiana, and twenty-one nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on February 8, 2023, at 1 pm with services following at 2 pm at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations in George's memory be made to Arlington Heights Senior Center, Inc., 1801 West Central Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.