German, George J. 1900-1982

GERMAN, THORP, FILBRANDT NEWELL, PEDERSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/27/2009 at 17:00:59

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Dec. 9, 1982

GEORGE GERMAN SERVICES HELD

George J. German, 82, of 535 West St. died Monday morning, Dec. 6, at Grinnell General Hospital. Death was attributed to a heart condition.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First Friends Church, with the Rev. Keith Briggs officiating. Organist was Jo Lynn Renaud, and vocalists were David and Debi German. Pallbearers were his nine grandsons: Philip, Mark, David, Tom, Reid, Randy, Rick, Scott and John German. Masonic rites were held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home.

Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorials in Mr. German's name may be made to the Grinnell First Friends Church.

The son of Phillip and Lorana Thorp German, he was born Aug. 20, 1900, in Grinnell. On April 19, 1924, he was married to Fidelia Filbrandt in Des Moines. The family lived in Des Moines and Minneapolis, Minn., before moving to Grinnell in 1926.

Mr. German joined his father in the farm water supply business and later owned and operated the German Farm Water Supply Co. here. He retired in 1966 but continued to assist his son, Larry, with the business on a parttime basis.

He was a former member of the Grinnell City Council, serving from 1951 to 1953. During his tenure on the council, he was active in planning the city's sewage treatment plant and was involved with the installation of a new curb-and-gutter system on the city's south side. He was also an active member of the First Friends Church and was formerly a member of the Grinnell Volunteer Fire Department and the Rotary Club. He was named "Boss of the Year" by the Grinnell Jaycees in 1961.

Survivors include his wife, Fidelia; his four sons, Gerald of New Sharon, Clyde of Phoenix, Ariz., and Larry and Hugh, both of Grinnell; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Thelma Newell of Humboldt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Katherine German, who died in 1933; one great-granddaughter, Tonya German, who died in 1981; three sisters, Ruby and Naomi German and Marie Pederson; and a brother, Herbert German.