George C. Gengenbach

George C. Gengenbach, age 75 of Mount Carroll, Illinois, died on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at FHN Memorial Hospital, Freeport, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at the Frank-Law-Jones Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 - 8 p.m. Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Funeral Home. Memorials may be given in George’s memory to Relay For Life Team “G-Force For A Cure” at the Exchange State Bank, Lanark, Illinois. Condolences and tributes may also be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com . George was born August 1, 1935 in Woodland Township. His parents, Carl and Mildred Gengenbach raised their family while farming, and George knew he wanted to do this the rest of his life. He attended the Polsgrove and Preston Prairie Country Schools, then, graduated with the Class of 1954 from the Mt. Carroll High School. On September 3, 1955, George married Catherine Mueller, turning a “city girl” into a “country girl.” They enjoyed the challenges of farming and married life, and together, they celebrated fifty-five years. They were blessed with four wonderful daughters.Through the years George and Catherine raised their crops, dairy cattle, and hogs. George enjoyed being on the tractor doing field work. Farming was a family affair, even later in life, with his granddaughter, Harley Jo, who got to ride with Grandpa in the tractor from the time she was a little girl. George enjoyed socializing with other farmers. He was a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau; was a Mt. Carroll Township Trustee; and a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Carroll.George will be dearly missed by his wife, Catherine of Mt. Carroll; two daughters, Linda Gengenbach of Mt. Carroll and Kathleen Gengenbach of Lanark; a special friend who was just like a son, Ryan Bales of Mt. Carroll; a son in-law, Tom Kuss of Rockford; two grandchildren, Harley Jo and Hayden; a sister, Betty Steiner of Rockford; and a brother, William and Janice Gengenbach of Mt. Carroll. George is preceded in death by two daughters, Susan Gengenbach-Kuss in 2008 and Deborah Gengenbach in 1991; and both parents.George’s family expresses a heartfelt “Thank You” to all the guys that stopped and had “machine shop meetings” with him. He really enjoyed seeing and talking with all the guys. Last, but not least, we give a big “Thank You” to Ryan Bales for being his “right-hand man” for so many years.