1914
George
2005
George Korbel
September 2, 1914 — June 6, 2005
George M. Korbel, Moorhead, MN, formerly Breckenridge, MN, died June 6, 2005 at his home in Moorhead. George was born at Brushvale, Minnesota on September 2, 1914 to the late Joseph and Rose (Srnka) Korbel. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brushvale.
George attended grade school in the Nordick District School #64. This school building is now in Welle's Park in Breckenridge. He graduated from the Breckenridge High School at the age of 15 and after working for his uncle at the filling station for two years took up Aviation at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. He then studied pre-law at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN and received his law degree LLB (JD) from the University of Minnesota graduating in 1939. While at the university he was a member of the Gamma Eta Gamma Legal Fraternity.
He was admitted to the Bar of the State of Minnesota in October, 1939 and began to practice law in Breckenridge associating with retired Wilkin County Attorney E. H. Elwin in the original H. B. Wells Land Office. After WWII commenced, he acted as Selective Service Registrar and Appeal Agent while practicing law. In 1942, he was appointed Special Agent of Investigation (FBI) serving in Washington, D.C., Denver, CO, and Chicago, ILL
During the transfer from Washington to Denver, he married Winnifred Dorothy Agnew at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND.
Shortly after the assignment to the Chicago office in January, 1943, he entered the armed forces of the United States as an Agent of Criminal Investigation (15th CID) and continued with that unit in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Prior to overseas service he attended CID training in Michigan and special investigation training at Miami Beach, Florida. He was discharged from the service in December, 1946. Upon discharge he was asked to preside at the Nuremberg trials, but declined, wishing to return to his family.
After discharge from the service he returned to Breckenridge where he continued to practice law. In 1950 he became associated with the late Anthony C. Gospodar, both retiring in 1985.
In 1946, George was appointed the Wilkin County Veteran's Service Officer, a position he held for 42 years, along with the law practice. He received the title of "grandfather" of Minnesota's County Service Officers. He never heard the word "NO" and was an aggressive advocate for veterans benefits be it for medical care, G.I. Loans, widow's pensions, burial benefits, emergency aid or whatever. His philosophy was "there has to be a way." A quote made by him said "It's nice that our nation remembers our veterans and heroes of our nation by erecting monuments to their involvement, but those same monies, if directed toward the widows and children of those same veterans in the area of increased benefits would be the greatest monument this nation could erect."
George was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Honorary Knights of Columbus, ABA, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW. He was District 9 Commander of the Legion from 1950 to 1951 and Dept. Vice-Commander from 1952 to 1953.
He served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Commission from 1952 to 1985 and received the much coveted "Pat Cliff Award" for rehabilitation work as Outstanding Post Service Officer.
He served on the Breckenridge Public Utilities Commission from March 6, 1967 to February 21, 1995 and on other committees at a local level too numerous to mention.
George and Winnifred had three sons, George Jr., Thomas and Michael. Winnifred died in 1968, and in 1973, George married Dee Traun at St. Joseph Church in Brushvale, MN. After retirement they traveled throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, Balkan Countries, Ireland, Greece, Scandinavian countries and the United States.
Following the flood of 1997, they left Breckenridge and moved to an apartment in Moorhead where they resided at the time of his death. In Moorhead, he became a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. However, he always maintained close ties with good friends in Breckenridge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Winnifred, sons, Thomas (July 18, 1971) and Michael (January 1, 1981) and sister, Irene Lehman.
He is survived by his wife, Dee, Moorhead, MN; son, George Jr. (Susan) San Antonio, TX; three grandchildren, Chris Romeo, Wayzata, MN; Joseph L. Korbel and Polly A. Korbel both of San Antonio, TX; sister-in-law, Beverly Skoglund, Marine on the St. Croix, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held Friday, June 10, 2005 at 10:30 A. M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN, officiated by Fr. Michael Foltz. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 9, 2005 from 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN.
There will also be visitation for two hours prior to the funeral at the church in Moorhead.
Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Breckenridge, with military honors by the Wilkin County Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, George requested that memorials be given to the Brain Science Foundation at the V. A. Hospital in Minneapolis, a chair he was instrumental in erecting; or to St. Joseph's Church or the Dorothy Day House in Moorhead.
Pallbearers: George J. Korbel, Joe Korbel, Chris Romeo, Stan Skoglund, Roger Nierengarten, James Lehman, Arnold Korbel and James L. Nelson
George attended grade school in the Nordick District School #64. This school building is now in Welle's Park in Breckenridge. He graduated from the Breckenridge High School at the age of 15 and after working for his uncle at the filling station for two years took up Aviation at NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. He then studied pre-law at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN and received his law degree LLB (JD) from the University of Minnesota graduating in 1939. While at the university he was a member of the Gamma Eta Gamma Legal Fraternity.
He was admitted to the Bar of the State of Minnesota in October, 1939 and began to practice law in Breckenridge associating with retired Wilkin County Attorney E. H. Elwin in the original H. B. Wells Land Office. After WWII commenced, he acted as Selective Service Registrar and Appeal Agent while practicing law. In 1942, he was appointed Special Agent of Investigation (FBI) serving in Washington, D.C., Denver, CO, and Chicago, ILL
During the transfer from Washington to Denver, he married Winnifred Dorothy Agnew at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND.
Shortly after the assignment to the Chicago office in January, 1943, he entered the armed forces of the United States as an Agent of Criminal Investigation (15th CID) and continued with that unit in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Prior to overseas service he attended CID training in Michigan and special investigation training at Miami Beach, Florida. He was discharged from the service in December, 1946. Upon discharge he was asked to preside at the Nuremberg trials, but declined, wishing to return to his family.
After discharge from the service he returned to Breckenridge where he continued to practice law. In 1950 he became associated with the late Anthony C. Gospodar, both retiring in 1985.
In 1946, George was appointed the Wilkin County Veteran's Service Officer, a position he held for 42 years, along with the law practice. He received the title of "grandfather" of Minnesota's County Service Officers. He never heard the word "NO" and was an aggressive advocate for veterans benefits be it for medical care, G.I. Loans, widow's pensions, burial benefits, emergency aid or whatever. His philosophy was "there has to be a way." A quote made by him said "It's nice that our nation remembers our veterans and heroes of our nation by erecting monuments to their involvement, but those same monies, if directed toward the widows and children of those same veterans in the area of increased benefits would be the greatest monument this nation could erect."
George was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Honorary Knights of Columbus, ABA, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW. He was District 9 Commander of the Legion from 1950 to 1951 and Dept. Vice-Commander from 1952 to 1953.
He served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Commission from 1952 to 1985 and received the much coveted "Pat Cliff Award" for rehabilitation work as Outstanding Post Service Officer.
He served on the Breckenridge Public Utilities Commission from March 6, 1967 to February 21, 1995 and on other committees at a local level too numerous to mention.
George and Winnifred had three sons, George Jr., Thomas and Michael. Winnifred died in 1968, and in 1973, George married Dee Traun at St. Joseph Church in Brushvale, MN. After retirement they traveled throughout Europe, the Soviet Union, Balkan Countries, Ireland, Greece, Scandinavian countries and the United States.
Following the flood of 1997, they left Breckenridge and moved to an apartment in Moorhead where they resided at the time of his death. In Moorhead, he became a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. However, he always maintained close ties with good friends in Breckenridge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Winnifred, sons, Thomas (July 18, 1971) and Michael (January 1, 1981) and sister, Irene Lehman.
He is survived by his wife, Dee, Moorhead, MN; son, George Jr. (Susan) San Antonio, TX; three grandchildren, Chris Romeo, Wayzata, MN; Joseph L. Korbel and Polly A. Korbel both of San Antonio, TX; sister-in-law, Beverly Skoglund, Marine on the St. Croix, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held Friday, June 10, 2005 at 10:30 A. M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN, officiated by Fr. Michael Foltz. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 9, 2005 from 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN.
There will also be visitation for two hours prior to the funeral at the church in Moorhead.
Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Breckenridge, with military honors by the Wilkin County Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, George requested that memorials be given to the Brain Science Foundation at the V. A. Hospital in Minneapolis, a chair he was instrumental in erecting; or to St. Joseph's Church or the Dorothy Day House in Moorhead.
Pallbearers: George J. Korbel, Joe Korbel, Chris Romeo, Stan Skoglund, Roger Nierengarten, James Lehman, Arnold Korbel and James L. Nelson
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