DEFEIS, George Robert 1920-2003

DEFEIS, RIDOLFI, JOHNCOX, GRIMSTAD, ORUM

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 3/4/2015 at 23:32:24

George Robert DeFeis, 83, of 125 Southbrooke Drive, died Veteran's Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2003 at Allen Memorial Hospital of natural causes.

He was born Biagio Giuseppe DeFeis August 30, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, son of Pasquale and Maria (Ridolfi) DeFeis. On his first day of school, he renamed himself George Robert (his best friend was Robert and he liked the name George).

He married Carlene Johncox in 1946 and they later divorced. He married Dorothea Grimstad from Waterloo in 1954 and they spent their lives together until her passing April 10, 2000.

George was reared in Brooklyn, attended Brooklyn College and worked variously as a band leader, radio disc jockey and professional baseball player until enlisting in the military in 1942. He received his U.S. Air Force officer's commission in 1948 and retired as Major and Commander of the 790th Radar Squadron in Kirksville, MO in 1966. During this time, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Military Science. Highlights of his experience include service in the Aleutian Islands, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Japan, Korea and Okinawa. Among his many decorations and awards, he holds the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Service Medal with six bronze stars.

Afterwards he continued his career as as a Hospital Administrator. Due to gradually becoming deaf, he provided for his family as a security guard, welder and safety mechanic. Upon his retirement in 1985, he and Dorothea returned to Waterloo.

George was famous for his annual Christmas letters, personal money cards, and email correspondence. Seldom has a man who heard so little communicated so much love to so many people.

He is survived by two sons Mark of Wichita, KS and Derrick (Jodi) of Rogers, AR; six grandchildren: Alana in AR, Vanessa, David and Heather in CA, and Sierra and Cory in MO; four great grandchildren: Austin, Talynn and Taylor in CA, and Zahviyre in MO; a brother, Frederic of Deer Park, NY and a sister, Louise Sciarrillo of Chatham, NJ.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothea, his daughter Aleta Orum, and his brother Peter.

Memorials in George's name may be directed to Faith Assembly of God Chrch, Elk Run Heights.

[Source: Locke Funeral Home]