George Ochss

George Ochss of Macomb passed away at home December 30, 2024, at the age of 92.
George was born in the small village of Racinovci in present-day Croatia on July 17, 1932, to Georg and Maria (Merkhofer) Ochs. His Danube Swabian family escaped to Austria in October 1944 and settled in Adlwang in Upper Austria. In 1956, George traveled by boat to America with a suitcase and a dream, arriving on Ellis Island in New York and then settling in Michigan. He went back to Austria to marry Herta Kranawetter in Pfarrkirchen bei Bad Hall on June 28, 1958. Together, they bought their first home in Warren, Michigan, before moving to Sterling Heights in 1967 and then Macomb in 1997.
George worked in skilled trades for over thirty years as a pipefitter at General Motors Fisher Body, retiring in 1996. He was a longtime member of the Carpathia Club, where he enjoyed playing Pinochle with his buddies. He liked to travel around Michigan and the United States, went back to Austria to visit family many times, and enjoyed 17 cruises with family and friends. He loved to garden, care for his roses, had the best lawn, and his driveway was always clean because he liked to 'water the cement.' He enjoyed sitting on the patio or driveway to visit with neighbors, and he loved watching Detroit Red Wings hockey and any type of soccer. He also enjoyed dining out and especially loved a good steak, lemon meringue pie, Bärenbratzen cookies, and Jägermeister.
What he loved most of all was spending time with his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be deeply missed.
Beloved husband of Herta; loving father (Papa) of Linda Gerhardt and Anton (Judy) Ochss; adored grandfather (Opa) of Sara Gerhardt, Christopher (Heidi) Gerhardt, Suzanna (Kate) Ochss, Alyssa Ochss, and Karina Ochss; devoted great-grandfather (Opa George) of Lily, Nolan, and Evie Gerhardt; cherished brother of the late Jacob, the late Mathias, the late Anton, the late Andreas, and the late Maria Steblak. George is also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family in Cleveland Ohio, Germany, and Austria, as well as his caregivers Jenn and Kathy.
A memorial mass for George will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. with a 9:00 a.m. instate at St. Blasé Catholic Church, 12151 E. Fifteen Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48312.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.