Obit: Bixby, George Francis "Smiley" (1933 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bixby, Colwell, White, Lammers, Ruggles, Cook, Opelt, Dillenbeck, Herdt

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) February 2, 2011

Bixby, George Francis (14 June 1933 - 30 January 2011) With flag

George Bixby, 77, of Neillsville died unexpectedly, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX.

Funeral arrangements are pending with the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) February 9, 2011

George F. Bixby, 77, of Neillsville passed away Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, TX, which was their winter home.

George Francis "Smiley" Bixby was born June 14, 1933, in Nichols, IA, the son of Francis and Martha (Colwell) Bixby, the youngest of eight children.

He served as a sergeant in the U. S. Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict.  He married Darlene Lucille White Aug. 20, 1954, in Missouri.

George was employed at Elcho Distributing, Iowa Lumber and was a hobby farmer in Iowa before moving to Wisconsin in 1969 to become a dairy farmer.  They sold the farm in 1977 and worked for the York Center Farms before buying the business, which became Bixby’s Grain Service until 1988.  Then he went to work for Northside Elevator until his retirement in 1996.  George and Darlene enjoyed traveling to Israel, Egypt, and all 50 states.

He was an active member of York Center United Methodist Church and an avid euchre card player.  He will always be remembered for his laughter, smiles and gift of gab.

Surviving George is his wife, Darlene, of 56 years; children, Cindy (Bruce) Lammers of Rice Lake, Debbie (Bucky) Ruggles of Chili, Laurie Bixby-Cook and G. Rodney Bixby, both of Neillsville; 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, John Bixby of Marshfield; and a sister, Iota Jensen of Ollie, IA.

Funeral services for George will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.  Pastor Mike Herdt will officiate.  Providing music will be Pastor Mike and Pastor Pat Herdt.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 9, at the Gesche Funeral Home and again from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday before the service.  Burial will be in the York Center Cemetery.  Military honors will be accorded by the Neillsville Veterans Council.

Serving as Casketbearers will be his grandsons, Jeremy Ruggles, Philip Lammers, Hunter Cook, Andrew Bixby, Ryan Opelt and Ryan Dillenbeck.  Honorary Casketbearers are Ryan Cook and Caleb Bixby.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting George’s family with funeral arrangements.