George W. Stearns

George William Stearns was born on January 23, 1934, in Perham, MN, to George and Thelma Olstad Stearns. He grew up and attended school in Moorhead, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1952. At Moorhead High, George was a four-year varsity letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. George was recruited as a scholarship athlete to the University of Minnesota where he played basketball and ran for the track team. George was a gifted baseball player and played with The Hawley Hawks and FM Chix during his summers. In 1954, he transferred to NDSU but left to serve in the US Navy as a pilot from 1955 to 1957. George returned from service to attend Concordia College and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Ann Lee, on August 3, 1957 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. After college, he worked for Mutual of New York MONY for two years. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1961 and over the following seventeen years, George served as district analyst in Fargo, ND, Corporate Manager in Chicago, Ill., and General Manager of Hanson Ford in Grand Forks, ND. George and Dorothy had three children – Ann, Will, and John. After living in Naperville, Ill for ten years, George and Dorothy returned to Moorhead in 1977 to be back home with family and lifetime friends. From 1978-1997 he was part owner, Executive Vice President, and General Manager of Midwest Mack in Fargo, ND. George retired in 1997 to spend summers at Pelican Lake and the rest of his time attending his grandchildren's school and sports activities. He was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church and moved to Eventide in 2008 where he attended services with his wife, and mother-in-law.George lived his life with faith, dignity, integrity, kindness, honesty, loyalty, and discipline as his guiding posts. His love for family and friends was second only to his faith in God. His children and grandchildren were his greatest joy and he was a great example for all of them. George was a dedicated servant as an active member at church, coach of many youth sports teams, and leader in the community. He worked to teach young people that discipline, teamwork, kindness, caring, and community service were always more important than winning or losing. At work, he treated all people with respect and sincerity. After retiring in 1997, George overcame cancer, and successfully managed diabetes, but Parkinson's disease eventually trapped him in his own body. He spent 60+ years with the love of his life and when she passed away late in 2008, his heart followed her. It is truly a blessing that he is no longer bound by his struggle with Parkinson's. After three months apart, he and his forever love are united again for eternity. George will be missed by all of the people whose lives he has touched.He is survived by his daughter, Ann Steve Clute, Hawley, MN; two sons, William Rebecca, Fargo, ND, and John Julie, West Fargo, ND; a sister, Betty Leroy Nesemeier, West Fargo, ND; nine grandchildren, Eric, Hahnah, Joran, Zach, Gregory, Geoffrey, Chad, Annika, and Kyrsten; and mother-in-law, Bessie Lee, Moorhead, MN.He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his mother, Thelma and father, George Stearns.