George Kreissl

Born: Feb. 17, 1936; in ChicagoDied: April 3, 2007; in Lake Geneva, Wis.His greatest accomplishment was founding the Corinne Kreissl Memorial Foundation Lake Geneva Classic Car RallyLAKE GENEVA, Wis. - George Kreissl, 71, of Lake Geneva, Wis., died Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at Milwaukee St. Luke's Hospital with his wife, Jan, and son, Kurt, at his side.George was born Feb. 17, 1936, in the back seat of a '36 Ford on the way to St. Anne's Hospital in Chicago. His parents were George and Frances (Marsh) Kreissl of Chicago.On April 26, 1970, he married fellow Chicagoan Janice Pranica in St. Petersburg, Fla. As a child he attended St. Andrew's Elementary School in Chicago. The family then moved to Grayslake, where George graduated from Grayslake High School. After graduation, he attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.George started his working career in the advertising department of the Waukegan News. After that, he and a partner ran a beer distributorship out of Fox Lake. He later bought a building in Fox Lake that became the town's first car wash.In 1971, he began a career in sales when he joined Thayer Advertising, based in New Jersey. His career with Thayer gave him and his family the opportunity to live all over the United States while George opened new territories for the company.In 1991, after moving back to his beloved Lake Geneva, he took a position with his present employer, Keystone Printing. He always loved people and the challenge of a sale.George's hobbies included antique boats and motors, along with antique cars. Over the years, he organized numerous boat and motor events. He and his wife's greatest accomplishment, however, was founding the Corinne Kreissl Memorial Foundation Lake Geneva Classic Car Rally, which will celebrate its 30th year in September.Perhaps his love of old cars and success as a traveling salesman can be traced back to his early arrival in the back seat of that '36 Ford. Always at home behind the wheel, he actually chalked up 854,000 miles in his 1977 Pontiac before he retired it in 2005.Survivors include his wife, a son, and a brother, James (Susan) Kreissl of Villa Hills, Ky.He was preceded in death by a daughter, Corinne.The visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Chapel.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Corinne Kreissl Foundation, P.O. Box 732, Lake Geneva, WI 53147.For information, call Steinke Funeral Home at (262) 248-2320.Sign the guest book at www.
NWHerald.com/obits.