George Sluys

George Van Sluys, age 83, went to his heavenly home on September 17, 2012. George was born April 23, 1929 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, youngest child of the late John and Willemyntje (Schaap) Van Sluys, immigrants from the Netherlands. He graduated from South Cedar Grove School and helped his parents on their farm, and learned radio repair through a correspondence course. George married Carol Ann Walvoord on May 7, 1955. George and Carol made their home in rural Cedar Grove, where George ran his own radio/TV repair business, "George's Radio & TV", until 2011 when a severe stroke forced his retirement. George was always fixing something: cars, TVs, radios, mircrowaves, steroes, etc. If he could get a service manual for it, he could fix it. When radio repair waned he learned to repair alternators and his service was used by most of the auto repair stations in the Cedar Grove/Oostburg area. As a hobby, George and his best friend, Harry Nuestal, refurbished vintage automobiles, spending many hours digging through old barns and garages for parts and even more hours putting them together. Their pride and joy was a 1927 Paige that is now in the Heritage museum. George was active in the community, as a member of Civil Defense, and the Conservation Club. He taught himself to play the concertina and harmonica as a teenager, and loved to play, listen to, and dance polkas and waltzes. For the past fifteen years he was an active member of the Sheboygan Accordian Club and The Accordianas. Anyone stepping into George's shop would hear either recorded polka music, or the real thing, coming from one of his many concertinas. George is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol, five children: Sharon VanSluijs, Oregon, WI, Linda (Edwin) Gildemeister, Radom Lake, WI, JoAnn (Rev. Stephen) Dietzler, Neenah, WI, Sandra (Michael) Reisenauer, Sheboygan, WI, Sue (Thomas) Wolinski, Green Valley, AZ, nine grandchildren: Harmonie (Dale) Foster, Adam Gildemeister, Jonathan Gildemeister, Lance Gildemeister, Samuel Neese, Grace Neese, Angela (Chris) Huenink, Aaron Radke, Shawn (Carley) Belisle; nine great-grandchildren: Dale Lin Foster II, Anthony Foster, Alexandra Foster, Caitlyn Huenink, Donovan James (DJ) Huenink, Carson Radke, Lauren Radke, Conner Radke, and Alexander Belisle. He is further survived by many sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. George was a well known member of the Cedar Grove/Oostburg area and everyone brought their "stuff" to George to be fixed. He was always ready to help others. His impact on the community/county comes to light often as countless people relay stories of George's generosity with a "free" repair or time spent solving a problem. He was always available to assist with a move or "give a lift". George was truly a self-made man, always eager to learn something new. If someone would tell him they did not know how to do something his favorite comeback would be "You can't learn any younger!" George will be missed as a loving husband: "I loved Carol since the first time I saw her"; a patient father of five girls; a loyal friend; and a true man after God's heart. Funeral services to celebrate George's life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove, 237 South Main Street Cedar Grove, with Rev. Kent Vant Hul officiating. Friends will be received at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 22, 2012. Burial will follow in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Hwy 32 in Cedar Grove. A memorial fund has been established in George's name for First Reformed Church in Cedar Grove. The family expresses their sincere thanks to the staff of Pine Haven Christian Home, Sheboygan Falls, for their excellent care and loving attention to our father's needs during the past months. Also, a special "thank you" to Pastor Vant Hul and the church family of First Reformed Cedar Grove for their countless visits and prayers, and to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for making George's last days comfortable. The Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg (920-564-2771) is assisting George's family with arrangements.Reception:First Reformed Church - Cedar Grove237 South Main StreetCedar Grove, WI 53013

Visitation

Saturday, September 22, 2012 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wenig Funeral Home - Oostburg
108 Center Ave. Oostburg 53070, United States

Service

Saturday, September 22, 2012 3:00 PM
First Reformed Church - Cedar Grove
237 SouthMain Street Cedar Grove 53013, United States