George W. McKellar Sr.

Anyone can be a father, but it takes attention, support and love to be a Dad. George McKellar knew this better than anyone. He was an incredible Dad, not just to his own children, but also to the many friends he made over the years. Dad was the name everyone called him. George was also a beloved husband, loyal son and faithful friend, as funny and fun-loving a man as you'd ever know. We were so blessed to have known him.

George's story began on a cool spring day in 1927, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were such good days in this country. It was the heyday of the Roaring 20s, when Big Bands were king and Prohibition was the law of the land. There was much to celebrate in 1927, especially for Arnold and Nettie (Mason) McKellar, who celebrated the birth of a baby boy on April 3, a son they named George.

George's parents lived in Canada for many years. His mother was originally from Scotland. They had seven children before moving to Grand Rapids in 1926, and had three more kids after little George was born. Together with older siblings Ernie, Merton, James, Arnold, Ruth, Nettie, Larry and Harold, and younger brothers Art, Ed and Dave, there was always plenty of activity in the family home of 12 kids!

George's dad was a maintenance man, while his mother ran her own McKellar Nursing Home for many years to help provide for the huge family. They moved around the city a lot when George was young, as his dad looked for work during the dark days of the Great Depression. During those tough times, the kids had to make their own fun, and George would craft scooters out of spare parts, or went roller skating. And the family had their faith to comfort them as well. They were faithful churchgoers, at Comstock Park Gospel Mission Church, part of the 12th Street Christian Reformed Church. George attended Sunday school every week, never missing in 8 ½ years!

George also attended Fairmont Elementary in Grand Rapids and later Creston High School. The darkening skies of World War II had thundered upon our shores by then. When George turned 17, he left high school after the 10th grade to join the fight.

George enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and did his basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He was then transferred to a munitions supply ship, the USS Pyro AE-1, which reloaded other vessels with ammunition and supplies. George saw action in the Philippines and New Guinea, serving for 2 years until the war ended.

When he was discharged, George returned home to Grand Rapids, and found work at the Walter Hagen Golf Equipment Company, the world's largest sporting goods plant at the time.

He also became reacquainted with a beautiful young woman he knew, Julia Sturgell. They began dating, and it didn't take them long to realize they were meant to be together. They were married after a brief courtship, on July 6, 1946, at his parents' home at 38 Quimby NE. Their honeymoon was a simple trip to the soda fountain for a phosphate, as money was tight in those days.

The newlyweds started out living in George's mothers house. Later they rented an apartment on Seward Avenue. It wasn't long before the husband and wife became father and mother, as well. They celebrated the birth of George Jr. on April 7, 1947, and three more boys would follow in the coming years, with John joining the family in March of 1950, Alan in August of '52, and Gregory rounding out the McKellar clan in May of '58. Sadly, Gregory developed a brain tumor, and died on May 9, 1964, at the age of six. The family got through that difficult time together, with love and support from George's family. They lived on College Avenue for a few years, before buying a home on Coit in 1952.

George worked hard to provide for his family, first working at Irwin Seating Co., before taking a job at Connor Foundry, where he worked as a mold maker for 19 years. He then worked for Proos Helmus Lawn Sprinkling Company, and later as a plumber at H&H Plumbing, where he earned his journeyman card. In 1985 he started working for Sommerdyke Plumbing until he retired in 1989.

The family did much together, from attending St. James Lutheran Church (and later Faith Lutheran), to camping at Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, to visiting family in Benzonia and Wisconsin in the summertime. George was also an avid deer hunter, and often went hunting with his brothers. When his sons were old enough, they began a 35-year tradition of hunting together each fall. George and Julia also did much as a couple, and loved to go dancing, wherever there was a Big Band. Sweet Georgia Brown was their favorite song to jitterbug to. They also enjoyed their trailer in White Cloud for more than 20 years, their own little getaway.

George was a funny, fun-loving, and social man, who enjoyed golfing and bowling in many leagues over the years. He was Grand Rapids Men's Bowling Association City Tournament Handicap Singles Champion in 1982 and Northfield Lanes Father/Son Tournament Champions in 1966. His bowling buddies all called him "Dad," which was the name he wore on his shirt! He also loved to play cards and games, he and Julia held many card parties on the weekends. He was a coach over the years and was the coach of the Beltline Bar Men's Softball Team in the 1980's. George was a big fan of country music and enjoyed playing the harmonica. He was pretty good, too. He was also very supportive of his sons' involvement in the Grand Rapids Jaycees and often volunteered to work at the Jaycees events. His contribution to and support of the community resulted in his being awarded Father of the Year, in 1985, by the Grand Rapids Jaycees.

George was a true meat and potatoes man, and a great cook. He made incredible breakfasts, with eggs, toast, sausage, bacon and potatoes, and his Thanksgiving Day stuffing was a family favorite. Holidays were always special to him though, when the whole family got together, grandkids, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews. He was very close to his entire family all his life.

In 1995, Julia was diagnosed with Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy, similar to Parkinson's Disease, and died on December 23, 1998. George was devastated, having lost the love of his life, yet relied on his family's love and support to move forward.

Then in May of 2005, George suffered an aneurysm, and complications cost him the loss of his leg. His family worried he wouldn't take the news well, but the effervescent George joked about it with his family, always happy to make people laugh. Needing more care however, he moved to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in June of 2005. He enjoyed it there, and had a constant stream of family and friends visited him. He also had a prosthesis he was learning to learn to use, and he made many friends at the Cozy Corner.

George suffered a few hernias and other health problems in recent years and recently had surgery to repair the hernias and remove the gall bladder at Metropolitan Hospital in January of 2007. He returned to the Veteran's Home and,sadly, died unexpectedly on Wednesday evening, January 31, 2007.

George was a wonderful man, a devoted husband and faithful friend. Most of all, he was a loving Dad, and a true father figure to all who knew him. He will be so greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife Julia in 1998, his son Gregory McKellar, his brothers Arnold and James McKellar, and his 2 half-brothers, Merton and Ernie McKellar. He is survived by his children, George Jr. and Pamela McKellar, John and Suzanne McKellar, Alan and Victoria McKellar; 11 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters; his brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Kathy McKellar, Art and Katy McKellar, Edward McKellar, Larry McKellar, Harold and Alma McKellar; his sisters, Ruth Curtiss and Nettie Boogaart; many nieces nephews and friends.

A service to celebrate the life of George will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 2740 Fuller Ave. NE at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 5, 2007 with his brother, Rev. David McKellar officiating. Burial in Fairplains Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - VanStrien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE on Saturday evening from 7-9 p.m. and again on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. To read about George's life, sign his guest book and to leave your memory of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com