George Lilly

George R. Lilly, 88, died Friday, December 1, 2006 at Immanuel-St. Josephs Hospital. Private services will be Saturday, December 2, the Rev. Rebecca Sullivan officiating, with interment immediately following at Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Watertown, MN. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9, 2006, at Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato Pastor Joel Erickson officiating, with a hymn-sing in honor of Georges love for music and his self-taught piano playing.

George was born September 9, 1918, in Winthrop, MN to Everett and Clara (Brune) Lilly. He graduated from Winthrop High School in 1935 and from the Normal School in Norwood, MN in 1936. He taught briefly in rural schools prior to serving in the U.S. Army during WWII as an aircraft mechanic in the Pacific. He married Helen Naomi Sandquist on December 30, 1945, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Watertown and later was employed as an automobile and heavy equipment mechanic until retiring from North Star Concrete in Mankato in 1983. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato, for many years and an active volunteer at the Mankato Lutheran Home.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen; sister Jean, and two brothers, Everett and Dean. He is survived by his long-time friend and dancing partner, Emma Anderson of rural Lake Crystal; three sisters, Margaretha Kuelbs of New Ulm, June Swift and Marilyn (Cliff) Quaintance, both of California; one daughter, Elaine Lilly, and her husband, Joan Roca, of Mankato; and close cousins.

Memorials are preferred to youth programs at Grace Lutheran Church or to VINE Faith in Action of Mankato. Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.