George R. Siebrands

George RuDean Siebrands, Jr. loving husband and father of 3 children, passed away at Prairie Lakes Hospital at 85 years of age on Sunday, January 3, 2021.

r.

At his request, cremation has taken place. Private family services will be held Tuesday, January 19, 2021 with Furness Funeral Home at Clark assisting the family. Public graveside services will be held July 12, 2021 at 1 PM at Collins Cemetery near Willow Lake with Reverend Dick Poppen officiating. Refreshments will be served following the service at the Willow Lake Community Center.

George was born on April 8, 1935 in Minnesota to George and Loretta (Kruse) Siebrands. He attended Willow Lake High School. George always said he waited 2 years to graduate with Shirley Fisher in 1955.

After high school he worked in Watertown at Door and Sash while Shirley worked at the Farmers and Merchants Bank also in Watertown, which George jokingly referred to as the "soil bank".

He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Loy Fisher on June 23, 1956. They resided in Willow Lake on a patch of land North of Willow Lake where he farmed and starting trucking. After a fire the family moved to town where they built a home on the edge of town.

George was the owner operator of Grain & Feed Company, buying, selling and moving grain with 3 trucks and 2 employees for 20 years. He was especially proud of his grain buying license something a lot of truckers didn't have. He then worked for the City of Willow Lake for 15 years maintaining the streets and caring for the city's water supply.

After retiring from the City, George couldn't sit still and returned to trucking for a few more years. Even when he stopped driving truck he went to driving a school bus for the Willow Lake School.

George had a passion for horses. In the early years the family would attend horse shows and trail rides. Later in life he kept busy with his horses and several calves.

When home from working he would assist in the Willow Lake Fire department and the local Lions club. He also enjoyed hunting and the event of the year was the annual West River Deer hunting adventure which they started in the 70's and went to every year until 2013. He and 4 buddies would go every November, his big deer and stories were legendary. To return the hunting favor, George and Shirley hosted the same group of pheasant hunters every fall for 40 years from Wisconsin.

George loved sitting in his shop with his dogs and a good cigar. Being on the edge of town, many friends would stop while traveling by for a good visit and a Pepsi.

George will always be remembered as a smiling face that would help anyone who needed help. A man of many stories, true or not, who loved to joke and make you laugh.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, his 3 children, Kevin (Deb) of Watertown, Kim (John) Cypher of Willow Lake, and Kurtis (Bonnie) of Willow Lake, 7 Grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and his sister Ruth (Del) Brown of Wall Lake. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Alyce Siebrands.

George is preceded in death by his parents, George Sr. and Loretta, brother Matt, sister Anna Marie and great grandchild Lily.

Arrangements are  with Furness Funeral Home of Clark where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.