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George Fish

May 31, 1922 - March 21, 2015
Farmington Hills, MI

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Visitation

Wednesday, March 25, 2015
2:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Turowski Life Story Funeral Homes
Livonia, West of Middlebelt
30200 Five Mile Rd.
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 525-9020

Scripture Service 7pm

Driving Directions

Service

Thursday, March 26, 2015
10:00 AM EDT
St. Colette Catholic Church
17600 Newburgh Rd.
Livonia, MI 48152

Instate 9:30am until Mass begins

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Detroit Catholic Central High School
27225 Wixom Rd.
Novi, MI 48374
(248) 596-3810

Attn: Development office

Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Cardwell
(734) 421-3567

Life Story / Obituary


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All who knew George Fish would agree that he brought the world around him to life. He was a hardworking, self-made man who accomplished so much of which to be proud, yet he was also a humble person who used his time and talents to help those around him. George was a devoted family man and he delighted in witnessing his family tree blossom to include the grandchildren he adored. He worked hard in whatever he did, and everything he said and did was deeply rooted in his strong moral convictions. Although he will be deeply missed, George leaves behind a legacy that will be proudly carried on by those who follow in his footsteps.

The end of WWI in 1918 ushered in the Roaring Twenties when prosperity covered the nation until the crash of the stock market in 1929. On May 31, 1922, George G. and Helen (Bossence) Fish had their first son, George Henry, in Smith’s Creek, Michigan. He was the third of four children in his family and was raised on the family farm alongside his siblings, Olive, Florence, and John.

In many ways, George experienced an upbringing that was typical for the youth of his generation. His father was a hardworking farmer while his mother, a schoolteacher by trade, helped run the farm. Growing up on the farm meant that George and his brother were responsible for their fair share of farm chores after returning home from school. As the Great Depression covered the nation during the 1930s, the Fish family was not immune from the trials, yet they were focused on helping others who were struggling more than they were. In his youth, George attended a one-room schoolhouse where he was taught by his aunt. Once he completed his farm chores he loved playing baseball with his friends and at times he could also be found skinny dipping in the Black River that ran through the Fish family’s property. Always the charmer, George had numerous admirers in high school who often baked him pies. After 15 minutes of instruction from his older sister, he got his license from the General Store as a young man of 14. With that, George was off and running. In typical George form, he always claimed that he was lucky to graduate from high school.

Although his mother wanted him to become a mortician, George moved to Dearborn in pursuit of a job at Ford Motor Company where he worked for 47 years. When America joined forces in WWII, George got in line to enlist. Since he was color blind, he had others who were in the line ahead of him tell him the answers to the color test to avoid having his color blindness keep him from successfully enlisting.

Not to be forgotten during his years as a young man was George’s introduction to the young woman to whom he would be married for more than 50 years. Her name was Lee, and they met when he and his buddies picked her and her friends up at a bus stop and drove them home. With a desire to establish a life together, they were married on August 23, 1947. The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon on a “motor car” trip out West, which became a tradition as they made a number of other trips out West either on their own or with family until Lee’s death in 1998. Together George and Lee were blessed to welcome four children, Kathy, Debbie, Pat, and George into their hearts and home.

Throughout his life there was nothing that was of greater significance to George than his family. He worked tirelessly to provide a comfortable life for his wife and children, yet as a father he also encouraged his children to find their own way. He always wanted what was best for his children, even when they grew older and had families of their own. George loved taking his family on a vacation during the last weeks of June, family trips to the World’s Fair and Easter breaks spent in St Petersburg, Florida. Active in the lives of his children, he managed his son’s baseball teams. George was honored to walk each of his daughters down the aisle on their wedding day, and he was equally honored to be his son’s best man not only at his wedding, but also throughout his life.

For years he was part of championship baseball teams in the competitive Ford League. George was Athletic Director at St. Thomas Aquinas where he and his wife ran CYO teams as well as a summer baseball league. For nearly three decades he was a member of the Catholic Central Dads Club where he volunteered his time and developed longstanding friendships he cherished. George enjoyed trips to Notre Dame games as well as Tigers games with his son as he was a fan of both as well as Michigan State and all Catholic Central sports. George looked forward to Christmas every year as he put up his own Christmas lights until he was in his late eighties. He enjoyed driving his Lincoln and he was fond of a good Manhattan with Lee and any family members who were around during weekly happy hours.

George had a strong devotion to his family, his friends, and his community. He had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed a good laugh. George learned everything on his own from fixing cars to investing for his family’s future as he wholeheartedly applied himself to whatever task was at hand. A man of strong body, heart, mind, and soul, George will be deeply missed while his memory is forever cherished.

George Fish died on March 21, 2015. George’s family includes his children, Kathy (the late Harry Gilbert), Debbie, Pat (John) Dolski, and George (Lisa); grandchildren, George R., Erin, Jordan, Jackie, and Ashley. Visit with George’s family and friends on Wednesday 2-9 p.m. with a scripture service 7 p.m. at Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home 30200 Five Mile (Between Middlebelt and Merriman). Instate Thursday 9:30 a.m. until mass 10 a.m. at St. Colette Catholic Church, 17600 Newburgh (North of 6 mile). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Detroit Catholic Central High School. You may sign the guest book, share a memory and upload a photo at www.TurowskiLifeStory.com prior to arriving at the funeral home.

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