(1933 – 2020)
George was a friendly genuine man who loved life and good times - a real people person who loved chatting with others. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He passed away peacefully in his 87th year at the Hospice Simcoe on December 29th, 2020. Beloved husband of Adele for 65 years. Loving father of Jeff (Kate) and Jackie (Kirk). Proud grandfather of Rory, Jessica, Teera, Ginny and Stephanie. Dear brother of Roy (Sima) and the late Mary and Ross. Brother-in-law of Bill. Cherished Uncle of Chris, Brenda, Katie.
Dear Brother-in-law of Lewis (Mary), Allan (Florence), and Steve (Vi) Holotuk, and the late Ann (Alvin), Gordon (Emily), Edna (Fred), Lillian (Paul), Art (Jean), Dan (Grace), Rose (Gilles).
George will be missed by many nieces and nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
In keeping with George’s wishes, a private family service will take place on Thursday, January 7th, 2020 that will be Livestreamed for guests to view. Please check above 10 minutes prior to the start of the service to view the link for the Livestream. Either flowers may be sent to the Steckley Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie for Thursday's service, or memorial donations in George’s memory may be made to The Canadian Blood Services, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, or Hospice Simcoe, and are greatly appreciated by the family.
George was born near Oakwood, Ontario (near Lindsay) on May 22, 1933 to his loving parents Harold and Annie Switzer. He moved with his family to Cannington at an early age and attended elementary and high school in Cannington. George enjoyed sports, Boy Scouts and outdoor activities. Every Sunday his Mother would take her 4 children to Trinity United Church for the Sunday service, followed by Sunday School after Church.
After trying some jobs, George hired on with Ontario Hydro and found himself working as a lineman in Huntsville. There he met lovely Adele Holotuk, a telephone switchboard operator, and they soon fell in love. They married in June 1955. Those were good years and enjoyable times. They were gifted with their son Jeffrey, born the following year.
The economy was booming, and new developments were in progress everywhere. George took his wife and son to the West Coast where he readily gained employment with Hydro in British Columbia. It was exciting. There were new hydro lines to be built over rough mountainous terrain and high hydro towers to navigate. It was challenging and rewarding financially as well.
After a few years, George and Adele, with little Jeff in tow, returned to Ontario where he joined North York Hydro. They lived in North York then moved to Richmond Hill, where their daughter Jacqueline was born, and later, after retiring, moved up to Barrie. George advanced in his work, becoming a Foreman, and later a Superintendent, for North York Hydro, retiring from his position in 1994.
George enjoyed boating in the summer and was an enthusiastic snowmobiler in the winter. He made many life-long friends through his winter passion as they would travel many miles on frozen trails on a multi-day run. In fact, it was commented on by many in cottage country that nobody snowmobiled quite like George and his friends.
George also was an excellent rifle marksman. He attended many shooting matches and often won first prize or a Christmas turkey.
In later years George perfected his bench-rest shooting, setting many Ontario records and earning the privilege of representing Canada for the World Bench Rest Championships in Austria in 2008. He was 75 years of age. To this day George still holds unbeaten records.
But perhaps his greatest joy was their Muskoka cottage on Skeleton Lake, which he built up from a wooded lot. He was a skilled handyman building the cottage from scratch where he loved to putter around maintaining it. It was the focal point for many happy times with friends and family.
During the past year, George had experienced a blood disorder, which very recently turned into leukemia. His passing was quite sudden and a shock to his family.
George had a great life, a wonderful family and will be leaving behind a legacy to remember.