Obituary: Grismer, George Edward

GRISMER, George Edward
(Age 85)

George was born on June 28, 1930 at Providence Hospital in Wallace, ID and passed away at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, ID on February 3, 2016.

George attended Our Lady of Lourdes Academy grades one through twelve and graduated in 1948.

In 1951, he was drafted into the military and following basic training at Camp Roberts in California, he served in the Signal Corps in Korea and received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations.

George returned to the Silver Valley after the war and worked in the local silver mines both before and while attending Gonzaga University where he received a degree in accounting with a minor in philosophy.

Upon his college graduation in 1959, George migrated to Southern California to commence his public accounting career with Arthur Young & Co. in Los Angeles.

A year later, he married and started his family.

George completed his California CPA certification in 1961 and in 1964 left public accounting for private industry, accepting several financial controllership positions, including controller of Motown Records.

In 1973, George was named Chief Financial Officer of Phone Mate, the pioneering company in the telephone answering machine business.

Four years later, he transitioned to Sav-On Drugs where he served as Vice-President of Finance and Administration of this $1 Billion retail business.

While at Sav-On, he met and married Florence Georgette in 1980.

In 1984, he left Sav-On to become CFO of Winston Tire Company where he spent the rest of his career.

Upon retirement in 1993, he returned to his Silver Valley roots in Wallace, ID.

In 2005, George moved to Post Falls where he spent the remainder of his life.

He was a devout Catholic and an avid outdoorsman.

He especially enjoyed fishing and off-roading.

George had a passion for automobiles and restored and owned several classic Buicks and Corvairs which he proudly displayed at numerous car shows throughout Southern California.

He could build and repair just about anything and was self-taught in welding, masonry, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and auto- motive repair.

George is survived by his wife Florence; two sons, Michael (Luann) of Placentia, CA, and Patrick (Christine) of Louisville, KY; and grandchildren Matthew, Marilu, Mallory, Alyssa, and Christopher; sister Mary Shand and brother Joseph of Spokane, WA and sister Anita May of Salinas, CA.

He was cremated and his remains are buried in the St. Thomas Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Donations can be made in his memory to Hospice of North Idaho 9493 Government Way, Hayden Lake, ID 83835.

A memorial is being planned.