George Earl Green

George Earl Green, age 91, of North Mankato, died Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at New Perspective Senior Living in Prior Lake.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato with Fr. John Kunz officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the Mass at church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Please share a memory of George with his family at www.mankatomortuary.com.

The family prefers memorials be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.

George was born November 26, 1928 in Redfield, SD to Earl Joseph and Aline Francis (Freudenthal) Green. He graduated in 1946 from Redfield High School. George enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. on July 31, 1946 and was honorably discharged on January 29, 1948. He studied at Iowa State University and Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD before earning an Accounting degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. George worked as an accountant at northwest Airlines in Minneapolis where he met his future wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Theisen. They were married on August 28, 1954 in St. Cloud. George later earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 1963, he began his teaching career at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. George and Betty moved several times as a family, including Colorado, Washington, Nicollet, MN, Washington D.C., and finally to Mankato in 1973. George taught Political Science at Mankato State University from 1967 until retiring in 1992.

George was an active member and volunteer at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He enjoyed volunteering for Meals on Wheels, VINE Faith in Action, and tutoring elementary students in math and reading. George also loved golfing, traveling, and drinking coffee with friends at Panera and Bakers Square. He cherished time with his family and grandchildren and will be dearly missed.

George is survived by his five children, Richard (Mallorie) Green of Salt Lake City, UT, Susan (Wayne) Martin of Kansas City, MO, John (Kim) Green of Shakopee, MN, Mike Green (Luann Darnell-Virk) of Rochester, MN, and Paula (Rahn) Larson of Windom, MN; nine grandchildren, Kollin (Jennifer) Green, Tyson (Amber) Green, Kaitlyn (Justin) Fitz, Katherine Martin, David Martin, Lindsay (Tony) Pastrana, Kyle (Alyssa) Green, Tim Larson, and Andrew Larson; eight great-grandchildren, Haley Martin, Trinity Green, Zoe Green, Selah Green, Kareese Green, Kellan Pastrana, Asher Pastrana, and Emma Green; and many nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Betty Green.