George was born on September 7, 1928 in Cooper County, Missouri at the family farm of George J. Bestgen, Sr and Adelia (Dueber) Bestgen. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1947. He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War. Once honorably discharged, he was a farmer at the family farm but felt compelled to move to Kansas City. There he worked and was involved with the Knights of Columbus becoming a 4th Degree Knight. He was an active member of Redemptorist Catholic Church where he met his future wife Marcella through a Catholic Singles Social Club. On October 21, 1967 he married Marcella J. Shoop. The happy couple moved to Grandview, MO where they raised their beloved children Lisa-Marie and Raymond. George and his family were active members of Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church. George worked as a truck driver at Lady Baltimore until he retired in 1994. He was an active gardener and shared with those in need like the Harvesters of KC food bank. George had his own secret BBQ sauce recipe and would share the sauce (not the recipe) with family & friends. There was often a smell of BBQ coming from the back yard as he smoked beef, pork, and chicken. George had a strong faith and kept a rosary with him at all times. He prayed that rosary often for so many and we felt the benefits of his efforts. If he wasn’t praying or up and about on his walks then he would have a book, magazine, or newspaper in his hand to read.
George is survived by his daughter Lisa-Marie B. Forcier and her husband Michael with their children Sean, Andrew and Rose; his son Raymond G. Bestgen and his wife Laurie with their children Aislinn Earnheart (Issac) and Delanie; his sister Velma Franken; and many nieces, nephews and Godchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents George J. Bestgen, Sr. and Adelia (Deuber) Bestgen; his wife Marcella J. (Shoop); brothers Leo and Andy; sister Dorothy; granddaughter Gabrielle Forcier; and nephews David Bestgen, Dale Bestgen, Guy Franken and Tom Sloan
We would like to say thank you to the staff at the Veterans Home in Cameron, MO who cared for our father these last couple of years and thanks to the staff at the Cameron Regional hospital who cared for George in his final days.
If you wish to donate in memory of George, please support the Harvesters Food Bank and the Cameron Veterans Home.
A Celebration of Life was held Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Coronation of Our Lady Catholic Church, 13000 Bennington Avenue, Grandview, MO 64030. George was laid to rest with Full Military Honors at 12:00 PM in Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A reception was held in Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral home from 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM.
