George Willard Sugden

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

George Willard Sugden, 91, of Mankato, died Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Water‘s Edge Assisted Living.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, January 12 at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary. The funeral service will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 13, with visitation an hour prior. Rev. Chris Conlin will officiate. Interment will be at the Glenwood Cemetery. Rather than flowers, please donate to the church, VINE, Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice, or the donor’s choice.

George was born to Mary Willard Sugden and George William Sugden on September 11, 1924 in his parents’ home on 137 Lincoln St, Mankato. He attended school in Mankato until graduating from high school in 1942. He attended Iowa State University in Ames for a short period before going on active duty in the Army. It was at Ames that he met the love of his life, Nadine Ransom, on the “best blind date ever” while she was visiting the university. After separating from active duty in 1946, he went to the University of Illinois for school and pursuit of Nadine. After marrying her in the First Presbyterian Church, Mankato, on June 20, 1947, they lived in Minneapolis where George finished his B.S. at the University of Minnesota and began working at Midland National Bank. They moved to Mankato in 1951 where George was employed as a teller for what became Wells Fargo-Mankato, retiring as its President in 1985. During that time and beyond he was involved in and led numerous community activities (among them Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, MSU, Airport Commission, First Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, Masons, American Legion, and Public Safety Office). He loved flying and became an instructor pilot, receiving the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA for aviation safety. George also served in the Army Reserve until retiring as a Colonel.

George loved traveling, DQ chocolate malts, summers at the lake, a cold beer, watching Minnesota professional and MSU college sports, and, most of all, family. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Nadine, son Brian (Elizabeth) of Virginia, daughters Marla (Ron) Higginbotham of New Mexico and Janine (Randy) Turbes of Madison Lake, granddaughters Nissa Sugden (Mankato), Jamee Whaley (Burnsville), Shannon Russek and Meredith Stokes (both Texas), and Laura Teschner and Elisa Holden (both Virginia), and nine great-grandchildren