George William Ketterl

Ketterl, George William
August 10, 1939 - November 2, 2010
George was born on August 10, 1939 in Fargo, North Dakota, and died on November 2, 2010, in his home in Venice, California from complications from melanoma.

George grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduated from Moorhead High School in 1957, and graduated from Moorhead State College in 1963. He worked in advertising art, then moved to California to begin his graduate studies at UC Santa Barbara. After a brief return to Minnesota, he returned to California, and attended Claremont Graduate School, where he completed his graduate studies in 1970.
After working in various teaching positions at colleges, he became one of the founding faculty at California State University Bakersfield, and he was a professor of art there until 2010. He inspired his students to realize their talents and to see themselves and the value of art in the world, and many of his students have become successful artists. He also had a successful career as an artist, and his art has been exhibited internationally and is in collections around the world.

George was a long time Venice resident, and his studio was a regular stop on the Venice Art Walk. He touched and inspired everyone he met with his youthful presence, intelligence, compassion, and unique artistic vision. He enjoyed traveling around the world, driving fast in his mustang convertible, and spending time with his family and pets.

He is survived by his wife, Lynette, brothers Del and Kurt, sons Jack, Jim and Joe, daughters-in-law Dinah and Liz, and granddaughters Madalee and Jessa.

CSUB will have an exhibition of his latest paintings at the Tod Madigan Gallery, with a closing celebration in May. There will also be a silent auction featuring art work of his former students and the art department faculty to benefit a scholarship fund being established in his honor.