George Robert Webb

George Robert Webb, 89, died on November 12 ^th , 2013 at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake, WI. At the time of his death he was a resident of Knapp Haven nursing home in Chetek. He was born on November 21, 1923 to George E. Webb and Jennie (Lund) Webb in the town of Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wisconsin. He attended the one-room Happy Valley school about one mile from his home from grades one through eight. In 1937 he enrolled as a freshman in the Baldwin Public Schools and graduated from there in the Class of 1941. While in high school he was active in football, boxing, band and choir.

The fall of 1941 found him enrolled as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in the Vocational/Agriculture school. The tragedy of Pearl Harbor in December, 1941 caused much confusion about his future schooling and in November, 1942 he enlisted in the Regular Army but under a program which allowed college students to continue their education throughout that school year so in June, 1943 he reported for active duty in Camp Roberts, California. After spending his basic training there and then serving in the hospital he was transferred to Camp Barkley, Texas and from there to Fort Shafter in Hawaii where he served in the Middle Pacific Headquarters for the remainder of the war. He received his Honorable Discharge in June, 1946.

On April 9, 1944 he married Shirley Ann Manning in the Presbyterian church in Baldwin, Wisconsin and so upon return to Baldwin he and his wife and son moved to River Falls to resume his education. Times were hard for the family and George worked at any job available to supplement the GI Bill of Rights, from laying linoleum to replacing a log on the bottom of a log home. In March, 1947 another baby joined the family making it even more important to find work.

December, 1947 brought some good news. There was going to be an opening in the Vocational/Agriculture department in the Chetek School System and the professor, feeling a little sympathy for this struggling student with a family, set him up to apply for the position. He was hired immediately and began teaching the second semester of the school year. He was very dedicated to his teaching and the students but he was also a strict disciplinarian. He taught from 1948 to 1956 when he resigned from teaching and took a job with the Farmco Fertilizer plant in Cameron, Wi. Another move in his career was to the Land-O-Lakes Company as a Turkey Specialist and he remained there until his retirement in 1985. All these years from 1947 to 1985 he was a very civic-minded person, serving on the City Council for the City of Chetek for two years, the Board of Education for the Chetek Schools for nine years and the County Board for forty three years. While on the County Board he was involved in several of the various departments such as the Highway Department, Law Enforcement Department, the Agriculture Department and the Building Department. During his time in the building Department they built the Knapp Haven nursing home and nursing homes in Dallas and Cumberland and also the construction of the Barron County Campus in Rice Lake and the remodeling of the County Court House. The Boy Scouts of America meant a great deal to him and he took an active leadership position in the local troop.

George was a member of Chetek Lutheran Church and served on the Council for a period of time. He was a member of the Rice Lake Masonic Lodge, the Valley of Eau Claire, the Zor Shriners, the American Legion and SPEALE where he indulged in eating his fill of lutefisk twice a year. Fishing was the big love of his life as he spent time out at Potato Lake trolling for the elusive muskie. He always loved spending time hunting, fishing and camping in northern Wisconsin and in Canada with his children.

George was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, his son, David, his grandson, Mike and his two brothers John and Lloyd.

He leaves to mourn his loss sons James (Sandy), Richard (Chris), William (Kelly) and a daughter Barbara (Pat Brink), also grandchildren Kari Fisher, Gerald (Buck) Webb, Nicole Trosen, David Webb, Melissa Jo Webb and Mitchel Webb. He also leaves twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 15, 2013 at Chetek Lutheran Church with Pastor Guy Redfield officiating.  Mr. Webb's family will greet guests at the Church one hour prior to the Service.  The burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery following the Funeral Service.  Active pallbearers will be Jason Fisher, Chris Trosen, Buck Webb, David Webb, Nate Webb and Terry Hight. Please view and sign the online guest book at www.burnhamours.com .

Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.