George FAILES

Age 94 Passed away peacefully on March 7, 2021. Preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Peggy) and sister Ellen Windorfer. Survived by daughters, Karen Failes-Coad, and Kathy (Pat) Carpenter; grandchildren, Adele (Elena) Failes, Meghan (Justin) Terry, and Emily Coad; three great-grand children. He attended Cretin High School, graduated from the University of St. Thomas, and earned a master's degree in botany and soils at the University of Minnesota. He was employed at CHS Inc. as a senior agronomist for 24 years when he retired at age 50 due to a hereditary eye disease which caused him to go blind. He participated in a 6 month rehabilitation program at the Society for the Blind and shortly thereafter became a peer counselor and launched his 40+ years of work as a volunteer for the Society for the Blind, the Governor's Advisory Council on Technology for Persons With Disabilities, the Minnesota Department of Human Services DeafBlind Task Force, The Minnesota Senior Federation, Vision Loss Resources, and more. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Council for the Blind Minnesota and a McKnight Award in Human Service. A role model for many, he said, "It is time for the disabled person to learn to volunteer his own services. We have civil rights, but there are also civil responsibilities." George loved to fish and waterski (even as a blind person) on Pelican Lake near Breezy Point and listen to his beloved Minnesota Twins. Our family would like to thank Eagan Pointe Senior Living for their compassion and kindness during their care for George. A Mass of Christian Burial at Lumen Christi Catholic Community will take place in the future. Memorials to Vision Loss Resources of Minneapolis. visionloss resources.org.