George Edward Englund, International Falls, Minn., passed away Thursday, May 15, 2008 at Falls Good Samaritan Center. He was 90 years of age.
A caring husband, father, grandfather and brother, George was born in Mahoning Location, a suburb of Hibbing, Minn., on Feb. 21, 1918 to Nels Oscar and Ida (Gref) Englund. Nels had emigrated from Jamtland, Sweden, and Ida from Vasa, Finland.
When George was 4 years old the family moved to Hibbing. He attended the Cobb-Cook Elementary School and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1936 where he was active in recreational basketball and track. He attended three semesters in Junior College in 1939 and then went on to Humboldt, Ariz., where he worked in the Iron King mine for 2 1/2 years.
In 1942 he was drafted into the United States Army at Fort Snelling, Minn. He was in the 5th regiment in Texas, training as a tank destroyer. From Texas he went to Needles, Calif., before being sent overseas to Hilo, Hawaii. In the Palau Islands, he was commissioned as a corporal. He received a Battle Star and was honorably discharged from the service at the end of the war.

George returned to the states in 1945. He worked in the Hull Rust Mine in the summer of 1947 and 1948. In 1946 he enrolled at the Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in Business Administration.
George began working for the Mando Ontario Paper Company in Minneapolis.
He married Bernice Carlson of Hibbing on June 9, 1951, in St. Paul, Minn. Together they had three sons: David John, Eric Edward and Bruce Ellery.
George worked in Minneapolis until Mando merged with Boise in 1964. The family moved to International Falls where he worked as a central operator in Data Processing until his retirement in 1980, when he worked for a short time as a consultant.
George was an avid fisherman, both in the summer and winter. He enjoyed making his own fishing lures to use and give to his buddies. He also enjoyed bowling in his church league in Minneapolis. He bowled in a mixed league and also the Major League in the Falls where he served as both the secretary and the treasurer.
In addition to fishing and bowling he loved to be with his sons when they would go hunting and flushing out birds. George adored the togetherness with his family. He was a tireless blueberry picker and he enjoyed quiet times with his crossword puzzles.
George and his family attended Evangelical Covenant Church where he and his wife were active in the 55+ Fellowship. He and his wife led a Bible Study for couples for a number of years. He was active on the American Diabetics Affiliate which met monthly in the Falls.
Bernice never had a driver’s license, but George was always willing to take her to all the activities she was involved in.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son Eric; aunt Bessie and uncle Ed; and sisters Helga Wilkinson and Janet O’Connor.
Survivors include his loving wife Bernice; son David (Raimunda) Englund, grandsons Eric and Phillip and their mother Penny, all of Bovey, Minn.; son Bruce (Julie) Englund, granddaughter Heather and grandsons Andrew and Tyler of International Falls; sister Helen Cadle of Maryland; brother John (Jean) of Florida; brother Arthur (Mazie) Penoilly of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.
If so desired, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, c/o Evelyn Perron in International Falls, the Evangelical Covenant Church Awana Club, the Blue Water Bible Camp or the donor’s choice in George’s memory.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, May 19, at Evangelical Covenant Church, International Falls, with visitation one hour prior to the funeral service.
Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, St. Paul.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com [1].
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.