George Moerke, 87, of
Fergus
Falls
, formerly Ashby, died Friday at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in
Fergus
Falls
.
He was born June 18, 1923 in
Ellsworth
,
MN
to John and Anna (Oldenburger) Moerke the eighth of nine children.
When George was two years old, his family moved to a 240 acre farm near Ashby.
Growing up his chores were chasing cattle, feeding chickens and before and after school he fed the calves and cleaned the calf pens.
He said they made their own fun in those days by rolling down the hills in summer and skiing in the winter and hunting deer in the fall.
He attended country school, District 55, through the eighth grade.
When he was 12, he moved to Ten Mile Lake and lived there until he entered the U.S. Army.
George was inducted into the U.S. Army on November 28, 1944.
He served his country in
France
,
Belgium
,
Germany
and
Austria
during WW II.
He was honorably discharged on August 27, 1946 with the final rank of corporal.
He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
George returned to farming on his home place and eventually bought another farm between
Elbow
Lake
and Ashby and farmed until his retirement.
In 1968, he was united in marriage to Sigrun Olson.
She passed away in June of 1972.
He has a life partner, Cora Elliott, whose family he adopted as his own including her grandchildren.
George was a member of
United
Lutheran
Church
in
Elbow
Lake
, the American Legion and VFW.
His hobbies were playing whist, fishing, hunting and dancing.
He is survived by three sisters: Louise Gislason of Willmar, Wubena (Lawrence “Nip”) Larson of Barrett Care Center and Anna Mae Harstad of Elbow Lake; his life partner, Cora Elliott of Fergus Falls, Marlyne (Wayne) Johnson of Fergus Falls, Wayne (Stacy) Elliott of Dent, Jerry (Sheila) Elliott of Fergus Falls, Doug Elliott of Elbow Lake and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and six brothers: John, Fred, Frank, Gertie, Bill and Ben.
Memorials are preferred to the
Pelican
Lake
Cemetery
in Ashby or the MN Veteran’s Home.
