Obituary of Paul George

PAUL KENNETH GEORGE STERLING- Paul Kenneth George, 89, died Thursday, May 13, 2010 at Sterling Pavilion. Paul worked for the Big Bear Grocery Store, then for Sears Roebuck & Company, before going to work at Rock River Provision for over twenty-five years as a salesman and driver, prior to retirement in 1983. After retirement Paul babysat for many families and in 1989 started working at Ace Hardware, Sterling and Grummert's True Value, retiring in May 2000. Paul was born August 2, 1920 in Aurora, the son of Albert E. and Lena K. (Otten) George. He was baptized at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Aurora, October 30, 1921. His parents came to Nelson when he was small as his father worked for the railroad at the Nelson Roundhouse. He also lived a short time in Como. He attended Nelson and Como schools, prior to his parents moving to Rock Falls, when he was nine, where he attended school. He served in the United States Army Infantry from Sept 1942 - December 1945, overseas in Attu and Amchitka. He married Ruth Heilener on January 28, 1945 in Sterling. He and Ruth lived in Emerson for sixty-two years before they sold their home and moved to the Christian Life Retirement Center, Sterling. Paul loved to camp, was a member of the Outaga Campers Club for nearly thirty years, Bicycle Club, and served on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Board and was also Superintendent of the Sunday School, he was also a lifelong member of the church. He also served on the Emerson School Board, Good Neighbors Organization and was a member of the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society. He gave a total of six gallons of Blood to the Red Cross. Paul loved to visit and tell stories, especially after his retirement when he visited residents at the Sterling Pavilion every Wednesday. He knew no stranger. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; three daughters, Susan Tucker of Morrison, Carolyn Reppe of Winfield and Marcia (Carl) Rodekamp of Emerson; three sons, Alan (Jeanette) George of Prophetstown, David (Jill) George of Port Byron and Mark George of Milledgeville; two sisters, Anna (Myron) Yoeckel of Moline and Barbara (Clarence) Millerschoen of Sterling, one brother, Eugene (Joan) George of Sterling, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one grandchild and two brothers. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Monday, May 17, 2010 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling, with the Reverend Judi Huseth, pastor officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Oak Knoll Memorial Park, Sterling. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Sunday at the Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling. A memorial has been established to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling. Condolences may be sent to schillingfuneralhome.com.