George Briggs

George Clyde Briggs , age 79, of Webster, WI, passed away Monday afternoon, August 14, 2017. George was born in Saint Paul, MN, on February 1, 1938, son of Rose V. (LeMire) and Clyde A. Briggs.  He attended public schools in St. Paul, and graduated from Murray High School in 1957.  George was a hockey player for the high school.  He and his teammates were in one of the first television broadcasts of the Minnesota state hockey tournaments.  On August 18, 1958, George was united in marriage to Eileen Laurice Whalen at Bethel Lutheran Church in Saint Paul.  He and Eileen made their home on Little Wood Lake in Burnett County in 1978, and they moved to the Webster area in 1985.  George and Eileen were 4 days shy of celebrating 59 years together. He had been employed by the Burnett County Sheriff’s Dept. as a dispatcher and jailer working at the Burnett County Jail for more than 15 years. He previously was an over-the-road tanker truck driver for Indianhead Gas Company and then was associated with Minnesota/Wisconsin Truck Lines. George enjoyed playing hockey and loved watching his kids and grandkids play hockey.  He also enjoyed playing golf, and was a member of two local leagues.  During the summer months, George and the kids would camp on Little Wood Lake, and in the winter they would play hockey, and he and Eileen enjoyed their family and their friends. George was quite the “Jack of all trades.”  He enjoyed woodworking, welding, working on small engines, and tinkering in the garage. He loved to go to Hertel to play Keno and to golf. Preceding him in death are his father, Clyde Briggs; his mother, Rose, and stepfather, Roy Godden; son, Timothy; and daughter-in-law, Michele. George is survived by his loving wife, Eileen; children: George L. (Laurie) Briggs, William A. Briggs, and Michael P. Briggs; daughter-in-law, Julie Pfluger; grandchildren: Randy Briggs, Lydia Pfluger, Craig (Ashley) Briggs, and Allison (Dylan) Longhenry; and great-grandchildren, Lyman and Hannah Briggs; sister, Sharon Van Hees; brothers, James (Ruth) Briggs and Kurt (Ann) Godden; other family; and friends. The funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 pm (visitation 10:00 am to 12:00 pm), Saturday, August 19, 2017, at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home in Webster, with Pastor Jay Ticknor officiating.  Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Webster.  A fellowship luncheon is being planned at Webster Community Center. Casket bearers are: Randy Briggs, Craig Briggs, Dylan Longhenry, Dan Whalen, Louie Derusha, and Mike Taczala. Arrangements have been entrusted with Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, WI.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.swedberg-taylor.com .