George Gulbranson

George Louis Gulbranson, age 93 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on June 19, 1922 in Niles to Louis A. and Marie F. (Zoss) Gulbranson, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1940. He was employed in the office of the Kawneer Company for two years, and then enlisted in the U. S. Army where he was assigned to the 4th Armored Division led by General George S. Patton. He served in one of the few Service Command Units stationed overseas as an Intelligence NCO. Sergeant Gulbranson earned five battle stars, including action on D-Day at the Invasion of Normandy, and an award from the French government. He was honorably discharged as a Veteran of World War II, and returned to his job at Kawneer. He was later retired from the offices of the Clark Equipment Company after more than thirty years of service there.

George was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles since 1949. As a young man, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning its ultimate rank of Eagle Scout. He has always been a great fan of all sports – especially at the University of Notre Dame. He also enjoyed reading and viewing programs about history with a focus on World War II and General Patton.

On August 17, 1946 in Dowagiac, Michigan he married the former Lenora Frieda Gross, with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable Sixty-ninth anniversary of their wedding. They were sadly preceded in death by a fifteen-year-old son, Timothy Gulbranson; and by George’s parents and a brother, Richard Gulbranson and sister, Carolyn Runyan.

Surviving family includes his wife, Lenora Gulbranson and their daughter, Pamela (& Mark) Peacock of South Bend, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for George Gulbranson will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Joseph T. Liss officiating assisted by the retired Rev. Carl W. Bassett. Committal services will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of George may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church.