George Kelsch

George Clement Kelsch, 98, Bismarck, passed away on September 10, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family. Services will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, September 13, 2008, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Bismarck with Rev. Michael Horn officiating. George was born in Rosenthal, ND, on February 13, 1910, the son of Andreas and Elizabeth Rohrich Kelsch. He was raised in Napoleon, Strasburg, Linton and Steele and attended local schools before enrolling at Richardton Abbey. From there he transferred to St. John’s High School in Collegeville, MN, where he graduated at the age of 16. He also attended Fargo Business School and the University of Minnesota. George worked as an accountant at the Bismarck Grocery Company and in real estate. In 1930 he married Margaret Fleck. They had two children, George, born in 1930 and Sharon, born in 1945. George and his family moved to California in 1939 where they settled in Whittier, a suburb of Los Angeles. He worked at Security Engineering Company in Whittier. After World War II started, George moved to the California Institute of Technology where he was Chief Accountability Officer for the duration of the war. At Cal Tech he was involved with the scientists who were working on the Manhattan Project. After the war, George founded the Friendly Hills Property Association, a residential community in Whittier and was involved in various organizations: Chamber of Commerce, Elks and Rotary. Throughout his life he invested in oil development in California and North Dakota. George’s wife, Margaret, died in 1962. In the mid-sixties, George joined the partnership of Nelson, Casserly and Valentine in Orange, CA, a property investment group, locally known as the “Plaza Gang.” He married his second wife, Ellen Tillotson Nichols Davis on April 28, 1967, in Bismarck. George retired in the seventies and they divided their time between Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert and Bismarck. He enjoyed golf and cards. George was a member of the American Horalogical Society and collected American railroad watches and 18th and 19th century French clocks. He also was a collector of coins, beer steins, and art. Ellen and George also took extensive trips to Europe, Asia and Hawaii. George is survived by his wife, Ellen of Bismarck and Palm Desert, CA; daughter, Sharon of Encinitas, CA. and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth of Dana Point, CA: grandchildren, Sarah Dougan of New York, NY, Matthew Kelsch of Anaheim Hills, CA and Andrea Lewis of Dana Point, CA; great-grandchildren, Kristen Medina, Natalie Ballard, Joshua Ballard, Lauren Lewis and Logan Lewis. He is also survived by two great-great grandchildren; brothers John of Rancho Mirage, CA and William of McMinnville, OR; step-children, Jay Davis of Whistler, Canada, Jerry Ann and Richard Allers of La Grange, IL and Claudia Tierney of Pleasant Hills, CA; step-grandchildren, Jeff and Becky Davis of Chanhasson, MN and their children, Damon, Kenady and Brady, Merritt Davis of Waterton, SD, Todd Allers of La Grange, IL, William and Lynne Allers of Portland, OR and their children, Joshua and Sean; Tracey Johnson and Leo Tierney of Phoenix, AZ and nephews, John Kelsch Jr. of Grand Rapids, MN and Jim Kelsch of Rancho Mirage, CA. He was preceded in death by his son, George C. Kelsch Jr.; sisters, Margaret Edwards and Eugenia Schuller and step-grandson, Christopher Allers. A special thank you to the wonderful caregivers of Quality Homecare and Medcenter One Hospice. Memorials may be given to one of the following: St. George’s Episcopal Church, Richardton Abbey, Medcenter One Hospice or the North Dakota Heritage Center. George lived a long and eventful life. Auf Wiedersen, George!

George Kelsch

February 13, 1910 - September 10, 2008