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- [S927] Obituary.
George A. Wetsch, 90, Mandan, died very unexpectedly, April 21, 2015, at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck. He died broken hearted with such deep sadness due to the death of his beloved wife, Margaret, who died June 6, 2014. In his own words, “My heart belongs with Margaret in Heaven and I am so truly happy to be with the woman I loved and adore more than life itself.”
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 27, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Shane Campbell as celebrant. Inurnment of cremation will be at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery with military honors provided by the Mandan VFW Post No. 707 and American Legion Post No. 40.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Knights of Columbus rosary and parish vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Monday.
George was born July 4, 1924, in St. Anthony, to Anton and Magdalina (Hatzenbuhler) Wetsch. He was the third born of 11 children. A World War II U.S. Army Veteran, in the 10th Mountain Division stationed in Italy, he served from Aug. 26, 1944 to Jan. 20, 1947. He traveled overseas on the U.S. Wakefield, traveling 14 days to docking in Naples, Italy and sent to a replacement depot where weekly, soldiers were sent to front lines to replace the fallen or injured servicemen. When George was home on leave, September 1945, he met the “Love of his Life,” Margaret Erhardt and two weeks later, Oct. 4, 1945, they married. She lived with his parents while George returned to service and in August 1946, Margaret joined him at his station in Ft. Meade, Md. They lived in Laurel, Md., until his discharge January 1947 when they returned to Mandan.
George and Margaret made their home in Mandan and were active in their community. George worked for Blue Ribbon Hatchery for 28 years as manager of the Farm Supply Store, the Red Owl Grocery Store in Bismarck as general merchandise manager for 12 years, retiring in 1987. George was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
George said he and Margaret did and saw everything they wanted in this lifetime. They traveled extensively throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada and Europe. They were the best cheerleaders for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — in all of their activities including band, chorus, swimming, drama, basketball, volleyball, soccer and cheerleading. George loved to fish, camp and travel. He was “Mr. Fix-It,” there was nothing he could not repair, broken electronics, antique clocks, remote toys, anything and everything guaranteed, if we had a batch of candy that failed, he would recook it and it would turn out great. He loved to tinker! He was of the generation of men who could build, remodel, plumb and wire. With those talents he helped his family remodel, build or complete their homes. He also loved collecting tin cans and was so proud to show off his collection of 800-plus as well as sharing the stories of where and when he found them.
He was honored to go on the last North Dakota Roughrider’s Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in May 2011 and so overwhelmed at the sea of people at the Bismarck Airport to greet them at the flights return. He said he had never been hugged, kissed and hand shaken by so many strangers. This two-day trip was probably the only time George and Margaret were apart — and it was magic to see their eyes reconnect as he came down the airport escalator.
George will be deeply missed by his daughters, Joyce (Gary) Yantzer, Bismarck, and Sandra Sunga, Mandan; five granddaughters, Michelle (Jeff) Kirkwold, Crystal, Minn., Tisha (Trent) Lezer, Rogers, Minn., Westie (Matt) Nelson, Fargo, Shelley Rohrich, Mandan, and Beth (Tanner) IntVeld, Mandan; 11 great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Austin Nelson, Maxwell and Emma Lezer, Nicolas and Jaden Rohrich, Gage and Brecken Merkel, Tayla and Hailey IntVeld and Annika Kirkwold; his brothers, John, Glen Ullin, Val (Darlene), Bismarck, Ray (Carol), Bismarck, and Edward (Rochelle), Grand Forks; his sisters, Leona George, Benedict, Angie (Frank) Boehm, Mandan, and Loretta (David) Erhardt, Houston, Texas; and his sister-in-law, Leona Wetsch, Des Moines, Iowa.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Margaret; one son-in-law, Conrado Sunga; and his brothers, Tony (Betty) Wetsch, Mike (Rose) Wetsch and Jack Wetsch
FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING TO HIM. They went and did everything together. They were truly the most incredible example of true and pure love! George said he has a wonderful family and be loves them all dearly, he was ready to go and be with Margaret, don’t be sad for my loss, be joyful for the memories we shared!
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to St. Joseph Trust Fund.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guest book and view tribute photos.
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1924 - 2015 (90 years)