George E. Theurer
George Theurer, age 102, of Ashland, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, July 30, 2010, after a brief stay, at the Ashland Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Ashland.
George was born, on February 19, 1908, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of John Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Auer) Theurer. From an early age, he was interested in electronics and built his first radio when he was 12. He took a course in auto mechanics in high school, and his first real job was as a Ford mechanic. When George was 15, his grandfather bought a Nash. The man that delivered the car showed him what the pedals and shifter did, and since neither his father nor grandfather knew how to drive, George did all the driving. At 17, George drove his grandparents and brother, Earl, around the Great Lakes. He graduated from Lakewood High School, in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1924.
George worked for the Society National Bank, in Cleveland, for over 40 years, beginning in the clearance department, sorting checks, and retiring as Vice President in charge of real estate loans. He was an Air Raid Warden during World War II.
George married Christina Hetty Weber, on April 12, 1933, in Cleveland. They traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, Canada, Europe, Africa, and most of the United States. He enjoyed photography, and had a dark room in the basement. George was an avid gardener, and raised orchids in his backyard greenhouse. George and Chris bought a home, in New Port Richey, Florida, in 1973, where they wintered until 1986. While in Florida, in 1971, George joined the Masons.
When Chris developed Alzheimers disease, in the late 1980’s, George became her caregiver. After he suffered a stroke in 1996, he was unable to continue to care for her, and came to live with his daughter Elaine, in Rochester Minnesota, while Chris staying in a nearby nursing home. Chris died, in June of 2000. George, Elaine, and her husband Jack moved to Ashland, in 2002, to be near his granddaughter and her family.
George is survived by: his daughter, Elaine Audrey Kirke, of Ashland; and his grandchildren: Sharon Marie (Paschal) Hammond, MD, of Ashland; and William Alan (Erin) Kirke, of Columbus, Ohio. Other survivors include: five great grandchildren: Brian Paschal (Bethany) Hammond, of Ashland; Christina Laurel Hammond, of Topeka, Kansas; Janelle Katharine Hammond, of Ashland; Kevin Alan Kirke, of Columbus; Alex William Kirke, of Columbus; and a great, great grandson, Everett Paschal Hammond, of Ashland.
George was preceded in death by: his wife, Christina Hetty Theurer; his parents, Mary Elizabeth and John Henry Theurer; his brother, Earl Andrew Theurer; and his son-in-law, John Donald ‘Jack’ Kirke.
A Masonic Service will be held at 11a.m., Tuesday, August 17, 2010, at the United Presbyterian Congregational Church, in Ashland.
A memorial service, for family and friends, will immediately follow the Masonic service. Dr. Darrel M. Robertson will officiate. A lunch and visitation with the family will follow the services, at the Church.
Interment will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, in Cleveland, at a later date. Our Ashland Chapel will be assisting George’s family with his memorialization.
Messages of condolence, for George‘s family, may be left at the ’Contact Us’ page of this web site. In your message, please include: George’s full name, so that we may accurately direct your message to his family; and your name, so that his family will know from whom it came.