George Riesselmann (1933 – 2011)

George Riesselmann, age 78, a resident of Racine (formerly of Kenosha), passed away Wednesday, September 28 while visiting relatives in Raba Wyżna, Poland.

Born July 21, 1933 in Waukegan, IL, he was the eldest son of the late George and Meta (Meyer) Riesselmann. He was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Racine.

He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, IL for five years. He served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1957, serving on the U.S.S. Wisconsin while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

On June 2, 1956 he married Christine Kuranda at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Knowlton, Wisconsin.

In his younger years George worked on a dairy farm, also as a brick layer and with his father as a sheet metal apprentice. In 1959 he began working on the line as a welder at American Motors, retiring in 1998 as a Superintendent after it had become Chrysler. He then worked for Morrison Knudsen in Detroit before finally becoming a full-time retiree in 2003. From 1979 to 1998 George and Christine owned and operated Riesselmann Day Care Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

George enjoyed fishing and hunting with his wife, children and grandchildren. He was an accomplished sausage maker and took great joy in sharing it at family reunions and parties. George had a love for travel that could not be contained and most enjoyed traveling with his wife, children and grandchildren to many destinations including Germany, Poland, Italy, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Fiji, Hawaii, Florida, California, Alaska, Colorado, and Texas, just to name a few.

George is survived by his wife of 55 years, Christine, of Racine and six children: George (Cheryl) Riesselmann, Mary (Walter) Dobrowolski, Karen (Donald) Rorek, Monica Riesselmann, Mathew (Tiffany) Riesselmann and Beverly (William) Lyman. He was most especially proud of his nine grandchildren: Stephanie, Samuel, Thomas and Kate Riesselmann; Anna, April and Adam Dobrowolski; and Logan and Connor Riesselmann. He is further survived by three siblings: Joseph (Ann) Riesselmann, John (Sharon) Riesselmann and Elizabeth (Roger) Falcon. He was also proud to be uncle to 63 wonderful nieces and nephews. George was also grateful to have close contact throughout the years with his relatives still residing in Germany and Poland. He will be greatly missed for his wry sense of humor, for his help and astute advice, for his generous spirit and most of all for the love he showed to everyone in his daily life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, October 10, 2011, at 10 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church in Kenosha (7117 14th Avenue). Visitation with the family will take place on Sunday at the church from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., and again on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will follow at St. George Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family, to be later distributed to George’s favorite charities, would be appreciated.