George Amelse

George Amelse, age 95, of Merrill passed surrounded by his family on Friday, December 13, 2019 at Pine Crest Nursing Home under Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  He was born on July 4, 1924 to the late T. Richard & Agnes (Bartels) Amelse of Tomahawk.

George grew up on a farm in the town of King, Lincoln county.  An enormous creek ran through the property & was filled with trout.  He became an avid fisherman.  George would cut a box elder branch & tying a grasshopper on the line he was ready for an afternoon of fishing.  On a balmy summer day, he married Johanna Pintens and enjoyed her companionship for seventy-three years.  He and Johanna were both in love with nature. Their appreciation for the outdoors took them hiking, skiing, snow shoeing & camping through-out Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.  George took a special interest in birds & built several bird houses.  His building of bird houses inspired his passion for carpentry which had him building furniture, doll houses for his daughters & picnic tables.  Gardening was a must in the springtime, he readied a plot & planted every kind of vegetable.  After seven years of cheesemaking, he worked for Owens Illinois for thirty-six years.  In his last years, he & Johanna spent their time in Bayfield with friends where George helped plant trees.  They also hiked the Prairie Trail in Merrill, where they enjoyed watching the ducks.

Survivors include; his love, Johanna, seven children: Kathleen, Palm Springs, CA; Marcella, Wausau; Suzanne (Warren) Aschbrenner, Wausau; George (Linda), Irma; Leo (Anita), Irma; Sarah (Mike) Simon, Madison; Virginia (Warren) Simon, Merrill; 19 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

George was preceded in death by his parents; 4 brothers & 4 sisters.

Funeral service for George will be 11AM on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Waid Funeral Home.  Mary Jo Laabs will be officiating.  Visitation will be from 9AM to 11AM on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Waid Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.

The family would like to thank the excellent staff and fellow patients who befriended George during his stay at Pine Crest Nursing Home.  The family would also like to thank Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services along with the chaplain who provided comfort in George’s last hour.