George Wendelin Schell

George W. Schell, 85 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Friday, February 18, 2011 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake in the loving care of his family and Mercy Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial for George will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Peter Sharpe will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph‘s Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simenson Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Serving as Urn Bearers will be Jeff Eisenzimmer, Tim Eisenzimmer, Jerry Burckhard, Mark Burckhard, Rick Burckhard and Nancy Lurwig. Honorary Bearers will be Louis and Thelma Martin, Ron and Berta Soper, Ray and Jeanne Eisenzimmer, Peter and Vicki Schmaltz, Rene and Sherri Ouellette, Kim and Carl Anfinson and Melinda and John Everson. Music will be provided by Tom Burckhard and JoDee Lagein. Special music will be the Bismarck Elks Choir singing America with Richard Schell as the whistler. George Wendelin Schell was born on December, 11, 1925 to Joseph and Eva (Folk) Schell in Devils Lake, ND. He attended school until 8th grade. George enlisted in the United States Navy in February of 1944 and served aboard the Man-O-War Destroyer, USS Putnam 757, for 18 months. His ship was at Iwo Jima where he witnessed the raising of the flag. He spent many hours in burning water helping to rescue sailors from the Twiggs when it sank from a torpedo hit. He was honorably discharged on May 23, 1946. George studied photography under Yuland Conway at Slorby Studio which George later owned and operated. He then worked with Jim Erickson Photography for several years. After working at the Great Northern Bar for many years he became owner of the Snack Shack at the Holiday Mall for 22 years. He became somewhat famous for his Snack Shack BBQ’s. He also continued on with his photography taking many weddings and reunion pictures. Dad enjoyed watching many children grow up as their parents brought them for a treat or rides on the horse and merry-go-round. After selling that business he retired and worked part time for Senior Meals. He enjoyed golfing with his many buddies and traveling around the U.S. with his good friends Thelma and Louis Martin by Amtrak, bus and auto. George married Donna Knutson on August 22, 1949. They had 4 children, Doug, Kathy, Chris and Mike. Dad was an avid hunter and traps shooter and instilled the love of that sport in Chris and Mike. They spent long hours in fields waiting for the perfect shots. He drove many miles hauling them to hockey games. Doug remembers Dad taking him to the Otter Tail power plant and KDLR to satisfy his curiosity and we kids got our first train ride; all the way to the big city of Garske. Dad had a great sense of humor and will always be remembered for his quick comeback lines and was a wonderful dancer. Dad was so proud of his 38 years of sobriety- he twelve-stepped many people in all these years. Dad adored his 2 grandsons Jeff and Tim and spent many hours with them at the golf course and the bowling alley. Grandpa went on family vacations to Brainerd, Valley Fair, Mt. Rushmore, Medora and many summers at Lake Isabel with Uncle Rich. Good times were had by us all. We will miss him so much. Survivors include three sons Doug Schell and his dear friend, Pam Heisler, Chris Schell and Mike Schell and his wife Bette, a daughter Kathy Eisenzimmer and her husband Terry, grandsons Jeff and Tim Eisenzimmer all of Devils Lake; sisters-in-law, Bert Schell, Bismarck and Mona Schell of Montana and many nephews and nieces. George was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Regina Burckhard; brothers, Joseph Schell, John “Eddie” Schell, and Richard Schell; brother-in-law Tony Burckhard; sister-in-law, Irma Schell.