George D. Meyer

George D. Meyer, 81, of Rochester, formerly of Mazeppa, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, in hospice care at Zumbrota Health Services surrounded by his family.

George Denis Meyer was born Aug. 26, 1933, in Hammond, to Louis and Aurelia (Lamb) Meyer. His mother, Aurelia, died in 1940. George grew up in Mazeppa and graduated from Mazeppa High School in 1951. He attended Moler Barber School in Minneapolis and trained at barbershops in Winona and La Crescent. George entered the United States Army on Dec. 9, 1953, served stateside during the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged on Dec. 8, 1955. George married Lorraine Lynch on June 28, 1958, in Chatfield. He barbered in Lewiston, St. Charles and Rochester. George and his family moved to his hometown of Mazeppa in 1966, where he opened George's Barbershop. He later began working at Mazeppa public schools in addition to barbering, doing both for many years until selling his barbershop in 1981. George and Lorraine moved to Rochester in 1981. He began working at Mayo Clinic until retiring in 1995. Lorraine died in 1997. George married Elinor Stevens in St. Charles in 1999, and Elinor died in 2011.

George enjoyed sign painting, dancing to old-time music, watching dirt track stock car racing, rummage sales, W.C. Fields movies and following local and state sports teams. He liked to build and paint bird houses, which he donated for fundraisers.

George is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Dawn Meyer, of Zumbrota, Mike and Ayleen Meyer, of Mazeppa, and Pat and Bethany Meyer, of Zumbrota; grandchildren, Callie (Tim) Mutschler, of Rochester, Brooke (Jacob) Cray, of Chester, Iowa, Caleb (Lisa) Meyer, of Lakewood, Wash., and Peter and Mitchell Meyer, of Zumbrota; and great-grandchildren, Calvin and Colton Cray. George is also survived by Elinor's children, Tom, Terry (Janel), Randy (Larae) and Patti (John Crooks); her seven grandchildren; and her seven great-grandchildren. He has two surviving sisters, Dorthelda Musty, of Chatfield, and Helen (Wilfrid) Liffrig, of Pine Island.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Chester and Joe; wives; nephew, Jim Musty; and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

In accordance with George's wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service, and his body was donated to Mayo Medical School.

An informal celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at Leo's Sports Bar in Mazeppa from 2 to 5 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Mayo Hospice or the Mazeppa Historical Society.

Special thanks to the fine folks at Mayo Hospice, Saint Marys Hospital and Zumbrota Health Services for their kindness and personal care and to Pastor Eric Westlake for his visits.