Our devoted husband of Fran, and father to Denny, Gene, Henry, and Sue, passed away after a long illness on August 7, 2005.   Here are some reflections that will help you know the man that our family loved very much.

Dad had a way of engaging and developing friendships with everyone he met.  Maybe it was his blue eyes, or that wink meant just for you. Every time he smiled, he would light up the entire room.  Sometimes just a shrug of his shoulders conveyed his thoughts.  He was a brilliant and creative man who had a zest for life and a love for all things good and honorable.  

When I was about 11, George came into my and my mother's lives.  We bonded quickly and he became "my dad."  He was my role model, my friend, and my mentor.  The love and respect that we shared for each other grew and became as strong as his love for his own children.

Dad grew up on a farm near Fargo, North Dakota.  His strong mid-western values made him an easy role model to follow.    He would frequently remind me that a man's bond and reputation is earned every day through honesty, and integrity, and that a strong handshake says "you can trust me!"  If you ever got to shake hands with dad, you definitely knew the strength of his grip!

When he married my mom in 1960, he committed his life to his new family.  We traveled together across country, we went to ball games at Fenway Park, we hunted & golfed together, and we ate dinner together most every night as a family. 

Dad was very committed to God and the Lutheran church. Before every meal, he gave the blessing.  These were always off the cuff thoughts that reflected his thanks to God for bringing family and friends together in the sharing of God's bounty.  Sometimes his reflections were longer than a Sunday sermon!  At one family Thanksgiving while the food was cooling during his extended "thanks", several of us in unison emitted an artificial "snore" and then helped him along with a loud "Amen!"  From then on, we just had to "snicker" a bit and he would raise his bushy eye brows, smile and finish up quickly.

In his professional life, dad was a scientist and electrical engineer.  His mind never stopped thinking and "inventing."  Anything mathematical fascinated him.  Long after the electronic calculator was everywhere, dad still had his trusty slide rule in his pocket.  Once my wife, "Sam", asked him how big an air conditioner we needed for our bedroom.  Two hours later, and with 3 full handwritten pages of formulas, air flow diagrams, and a floor plan, he answered that a 5000 BTU unit would do.

The "Official Obituary" reviews dad's many contributions as an inventor including working with Robert Oppenheimer in the development of the Atomic Bomb.  Here are some other things he helped develop that you might find of interest:

• The fluted paper salt and pepper package

• An automated process for inserting ladies nylons into packages

• An early version of an electronically controlled irrigation system

• Following his own very invasive knee surgery, he consulted on the arthroscopic surgery technique

When asked what drives him to invent things, he would answer, "for the benefit of mankind."  When asked what in his opinion is the greatest invention of all time, he would answer: "electricity, just think what life would be like without it!"  

So here's to you dad!  You will always be remembered for the way you made us laugh, for your caring and compassionate ways, and for your gentle touch, yet your had strong and creative hands.  We will always love you for your devotion to your family and your Country.  Your spirit is with us everyday and it will remain with us until we are once again reunited in heaven.

With our Love,

Fran, Gene, Henry, and Sue