Georgiella "Georgie" Essenwanger

Georgie Essenwanger, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Tuparan Residential Care Home in Redlands, California, surrounded by her loving family. She was 92 years old.

Georgie was born on August 27, 1932, in Long Beach, California, to George and Beatrice Boyd Beckman. At the age of just five, Georgie was sadly preceded in death by her loving mother, Beatrice, whereupon her father George raised Georgie and her half-siblings Lawrence and Lilian Beazley by himself at their home in Artesia, California.

Georgie met her future husband, Norman “Norm”, in 1938 when he and his younger brother Eldon Rosebaum began spending summer vacations with their Aunt Isabel and Uncle John Schuurman who lived next-door to Georgie and who had taken her under their wing. Georgie, Norm, Eldon and all the local children enjoyed playing together in the neighborhood.

While dating in 1947 Georgie and Norm went to a Jewelry store in Anaheim, where she picked out an engagement ring. On November 18, 1948, Georgie and Norm were wed at the Normandy Wedding Chapel in Long Beach attended by family and friends. By the time she was 21 Georgie had become the devoted mother to four sons, Richard, Glenn, Kenneth and Gary.

Georgie worked diligently raising her family and serving her community by volunteering as a cub scout den mother, running the Upland Little League Baseball snack bar, working in the San Antonio Hospital Gift Shop and participating in Upland Elementary School PTA activities. Georgie’s long-term activity in the PTA led her to become certified in Parliamentary Procedures whereupon she became the President of the Upland Elementary PTA from 1961 to 1962. Georgie was subsequently awarded a Lifetime PTA Membership Pin in 1964.

In addition to all her volunteer community work, Georgie worked several part-time, seasonal and full-time jobs including Avon, WT Grant Store, Whitefront Store, Pomona Fairgrounds Horse Racing Track Gift Shop and General-Electric iron plant until 1969 to help with the family finances. She subsequently worked for another 15 years for the Thrifty Drug Store chain, starting out as a checker at the Montclair store and quickly promoting to cosmetic product educator servicing over 100 different Thrifty stores in the greater Los Angeles area.

Georgie excelled at planning, organizing and participating in fun outings, vacations, parties and holiday celebrations for family and friends. She particularly delighted in hosting Christmas, Thanksgiving and birthday celebrations. Georgie and Norm took their four young boys to Disneyland on opening day in 1955. Georgie especially loved beach trips and vacations imbuing a strong love of the ocean in her boys, all of whom became avid divers and sailboat sailors. Georgie tremendously enjoyed planning and taking long vacations at Avalon, Catalina Island where her extended family and friends would join her for a week or two or three of fun seaside activities. Georgie enormously enjoyed two highlight vacations to Puerto Rico and Kaui, Hawaii with family and friends.

Georgie is survived by her husband Norm Essenwanger, four sons Rick, Glenn, Ken, and Gary; grandchildren Kelly Essenwanger and Kimber Carnes; greatgrandchildren Ira, Yuma and Esme Essenwanger, and Marston and Violet Carnes; and she was additionally blessed with many step-grandchildren, step-greatgrandchildren, extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Beatrice and George L. Beckman, and siblings, Lawrence and Lilian.

Open casket viewing will be held at 9:00-am to 1:00-pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Draper Mortuary, 811 North Mountain Avenue, Ontario CA and a graveside service will be held at 10:30-am on Monday, June 23rd at the Bellevue Memorial Park mausoleum, 1240 West “G” Street, Ontario, CA

Family and friends who would like to get together after the viewing is over on Saturday, June 21st are invited to RSVP to attend an informal gathering hosted by Evelyn and Gary Essenwanger from 2:30-pm to 6:00-pm at their home at 12056 18th Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 909-578-7156 by Thursday, June 19, 2025.