George William Callister, at the age of 96, died in his home of nearly 55 years on the morning of Wednesday, April 21, 2021. A visitation for George will be on Thursday, April 29th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Drake and Son Funeral Home in Chicago. A Celebration of Life Service for both George and Jackie will also be at Drake and Son Funeral Home on Friday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. and immediately followed by a committal for George and his wife, Jackie, who died in October, at Ridgewood Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. The Reverend Lindsay Mack of Luther Memorial Church of Chicago will preside.
George was born November 29, 1924 at American Hospital in Chicago (what is today called Thorek Hospital). He was born to Harold Callister, who died in 1976, and Helen Frances (Schauer) Callister, who died in 2000. He grew up at their home on Leavitt Street in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Mc Pherson Grade School and Amundsen High School where he graduated in 1942. Shortly after graduation he was drafted and served in World War II in the Army Air Corps. During his service he was stationed in the United States at Atlantic City, New Jersey; Brookings, South Dakota; San Antonio, Texas; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Toward the end of the war he was sent to the China Burma India campaign field where we was stationed at air fields in Calcutta, India and Shanghai, China.
Upon his discharge in 1946 he returned to Chicago and worked most of his life as an auto parts salesman in various auto dealerships in Chicago. He married Jacqueline Marie (Gheza) Fletter, who was widowed with her son, Dale Allen Fletter. In addition, George and Jackie also had two children, William Harold, born in 1963 and Victoria (Vicki) Elizabeth, born in 1965. Also in 1965 George and his family moved into the home on Cullom Avenue where he and Jackie lived the rest of their lives. In the 1980's George taught his trade to students at Truman College through the CETA program where he taught about auto parts sales, inventory, and mechanics. Upon his retirement from that job he continued working part time at Truman College managing the tools, equipment, and supplies for Truman College auto garage until the age of 75. He enjoyed spending time at home with his family, tinkering around with his 1951 Buick Roadmaster, and watching the Cubs and White Sox on television.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Jackie who just died in October of 2020. Surviving are his children Dale (Stephen Paffrath) Fletter, William (Dodi) Callister and granddaughter Brandi Peters, Vicki (Dave) Thoms and grandchildren Chris (Stacie) Thoms, LisaBeth Thoms, Allison Thoms, and Derek Thoms.
Memorial Gifts may be directed to Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care 1550 Bishop Court, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 or Luther Memorial Church 2500 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60625.
In consideration of the safety of all our guests and associates, Drake and Son Funeral Home will adhere to the current gathering restrictions in the state of Illinois, which allows 50 or fewer guests at services. Proper social distancing must be practiced and all guests will be required to wear face masks at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.
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