PEHLING, George Christian

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Tuesday, July 28, 2009 George Christian Pehling passed away peacefully at the Coronado Hospice House in Phoenix, July 16, 2009. George was born to Minnie (Borning) and George Pehling on Dec. 23, 1919, in Echo, Minn. He was baptized in Peace Lutheran Church, Echo, Minn., on Jan. 11, 1920. George attended school in Echo and graduated from Echo High School in 1937. George was married to Marion Swenson on June 18, 1941, in the Delefield Lutheran Church, Delefield, Minn. He entered the Army Signal Corps in 1942, and was stationed in Warrenton, Va. After his discharge in 1946, he and Marion farmed near Waverly, Minn., for 17 years. After moving to Howard Lake, Minn., he worked construction. In 1969, George, Marion and their two children, Barbara and Douglas, moved to Lake Havasu City. He worked construction and for nine years, he was groundkeeper at Lake Havasu High School until his retirement. George was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, serving on the church councils in both Howard Lake and at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, where he was a member for nearly 40 years. George and Marion were able to enjoy retirement by taking many memorable trips to Alaska, Norway, Germany and a cruise through the Panama Canal. They also volunteered at the Lake Havasu Food Bank and helped with the Chin-Up Program. George was preceded in his passing by his parents, Minnie and George Pehling, his stepfather Marvin Engel, and his three brothers, Marvin, Wilfred and Robert. He is survived by Marion, his wife of 68 years; his three sisters, Millie Hein, Aggie Johannsen and Dolly Harper; his daughter, Barbara Malone and her husband David; his son, Douglas and his wife Rebecca, and seven grandchildren; Shawn, Cory, Benjamin, Jordan, Andria, Monica and Ryan; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. George is remembered as a gentle, loving man who was willing to lend a hand whenever it was needed. He was also an avid fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks. A memorial service will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Columbarium on the grounds of Mount Olive. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Hospice of Havasu, P.O. Box 597, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com.