George Guenther Geelan

George Guenther Geelan was born in Sioux Falls, SD to Leo C. and Fredda (Veale) Geelan in 1921. He passed away after a short illness on January 23, just a month before his ninetieth birthday. During his childhood and youth his family lived in LeMars, IA; Evanston, IL; Kansas City, MO; and Minneapolis, MN. He graduated from high school in Kansas City and earned his degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1943.

After his graduation he worked for Curtiss-Wright Corp. at their experimental plant in Buffalo, NY before receiving a direct commission in the U.S. Navy Air Corps in 1944. He was stationed at Norfolk NAS briefly and at Jacksonville NAS before he reported for duty in Combat Aircraft Service Unit, (CASU 43) in Guam. He served there for the duration of the war in the Pacific and was separated with the rank of Lieut. SG.

He returned to the laboratory in Buffalo and began his career in rocketry. He was manager of the LaCrosse missile program at White Sands, NM for Cornell Aeronautical Laboratories and later, program manager for the Titan Missile Program for TRW at Cape Canaveral, including oversight of the construction of the dispersed silos. He managed programs in Australia and later, Japan for their initial missile launches. FMC hired him to consult in the development of their missile program. He then worked as a missile consultant in the DC area for two years. As a youth he was a natural athlete, excelling in many sports. His favorites were football, track, golf and hunting. He was especially proud of his membership on the ’40-“41 Univ. of Minn. national championship football teams under the legendary Bernie Bierman.

George was a low handicap golfer. He formed many lasting friendships on the fairways of LasCruces CC (NM); Brookfield CC (Buffalo NY); Rockledge CC (FL); Redlands CC (CA); Sioux City CC (IA); Hazeltine National GC (MN); and finally Sugarmill Woods CC as a member of the “Mad Dogs” group.

A resident of Citrus County since 1988, He served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and on the Republican Executive Committee. He was Republican State committeeman for one term and a Sherriff’s Department volunteer. George was an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity; ICBM Pioneers; N. Suncoast and Crystal River Republican Clubs; VFW; American Legion; and he was an Elk.

George is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jean (Kneeland); his two children, Christopher E. Geelan and wife Linda of Banning, CA and Nancy G. Waller and husband Forrest E. of Alexandria, VA; his sister, Margaret G. Reimann of Edina, MN; six nieces and nephews; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Thomas, all of Minnesota.

A service of remembrance will be held 2 Pm on Friday, February 4, 2011 at Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs. Condolences may be offered at www.wilderfuneral.com