George Peter Holland

George Peter Holland was born March 24, 1938, in Liverpool England. Son to Harry and May (Rice) Holland. George was the second of four children - he is survived by his oldest sister Doreen Willis (of Liverpool, England), younger sister Margaret Leech (of Ormskirk, England) and youngest brother Peter Holland (of Adelaide, Australia). Georges earliest years were dominated by events of World War 2 and the blitz on England, where he and his family were constantly forced to seek refuge in the bomb shelters during the nightly bombing raids over Liverpool - a major port and target. The kids were forced to wear gas masks and many were sent away from home to the countryside outside Liverpool and to Scotland. Georges mum would not let him or his sister go, she wanted to keep them safe with her - and she did even when an unexploded bomb came down the chimney!! Most of his family survived the bombings. George used to say that he started working at the age of 8 when he worked at a local farm picking potatoes and he delivered the paper too, and that was before he went to school daily!! He liked to exaggerate "a bit".. he was actually 8.5 years old! :) When he left school he joined the British Merchant Navy, where he travelled the world and enjoyed visiting many countries with the Navy and a lifelong love aboard a ship on the open sea. A love that never left him until the end. George was present offshore during the "Bay of Pigs" invasion in Cuba along with many adventures in the Middle East, Mediterranean and Baltic seas to name a few ports he passed through which he spoke of throughout the years when he would share a story or two. One ship he was on sank in the English Channel after it was hit by another ship. George stayed with the Captain until the ship was towed to port. He met his wife Sheila in 1959, they married in February 1962, having had 54 wonderful years together! Georges eldest son, Gary, was born in 1963 in Liverpool. Jeff, the middle child, always affectionately referred to as "The Kid", was born in 1966 in Flint, Michigan. Kerri, Georges "princess", was born in 1971 in Flint, Michigan. George and Sheila emigrated to the US in 1965. The best move they ever could have made he would often say, and his family agrees! He started working at General Motors - Buick Division in 1965. George did his apprenticeship and joined skilled trades as a millwright. George loved his job and all of his work friends. George worked for 31 years before retiring -- without one sick day and even after a work accident crushed part of his finger and he still finished his shift, and then went to the doctor to begin months of rehab!! George and Sheila retired to Arizona in 1996, they followed Jeff and Kerri who had moved a few years earlier. They decided that they couldn't take the cold Michigan winters anymore and had enjoyed the Arizona sunshine since. Georges family has expanded over the years. His son Gary, married Joanie and have 2 step-granddaughters Nicole and Jayme and one grandson, Gary (Georges "buddy"). His son Jeff, married to Cindy and have 2 step-granddaughters, Jessica and Emily. His daughter Kerri, married to Dave Mora, have 1 granddaughter, Devon (Georges "sweetpea"). Devon is 2.5 years old and had put a smile on Georges face everyday during his courageous fight. George worked hard his whole life to give his family an amazing life. He never quit working up until his final days. George would do anything for anyone, he was a man of honor and his word was his promise. He loved to build and work with wood, he could fix anything and he was a regular "Jack of all trades." George often could be found walking the neighborhood and helping out anyone that asked of him, or simply to chat and he often could be found doing chores in the driveway that involved visits from whomever drove by. George also enjoyed being a 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus at St Stevens Church in Sun Lakes. George made many great friends at St Stevens and around his neighborhood who were constantly by his side until the end. He will be sadly missed, always fondly remembered and loved forever in our hearts and spirits.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in George's memory to Hospice of the Valley.

https://www.hov.org/donate