George W. King

George King, 84, of Green Lake, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 24, 2025, after fighting a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. He was born on February 18, 1941, in Berlin, Wisconsin, the middle child of George Lyle and Celest Parsons King.

George attended Green Lake schools and then UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison, receiving a BS degree in Civil Engineering. He worked his entire career in southeastern Wisconsin, with offices in Elkhorn and Lake Geneva.

George’s heart was always in Green Lake and on weekends he returned to the family home on Scott Street. In retirement he joined his sister, Celest, there. Together they maintained the old world charm of their home, a designated century house (1892). The annual summer picnics at the King house were always looked forward to by a wide group of family, friends, and neighbors.

George, affectionately known as Karate, enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips with his buddies, out west for elk, and up north into the Michigan UP and Ontario, Canada, for hunting and fishing. He also spent many pleasant days working on a local farm fencing and protecting a variety of native trees, as well as trees he purchased, so the deer would not destroy them. He was a member of the Green Lake chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow, where he served as treasurer.

George was a skillful poker player. He played in a friends group, but also competed professionally and placed several times, garnering himself a place at the national tournament in Las Vegas.

George served in the Army, in Vietnam, and was a member of American Legion Post 306 in Green Lake.

He was a member of the Green Lake City Council for 14 years, where his civil engineering background added depth to many discussions regarding land development. He also was on the Plan Commission for 15 years. He was (hopefully) respected by his peers, although he could be a bit of a maverick. In his later years, George was promoting the option of creating a Mobile Home Neighborhood as an affordable housing alternative in Green Lake, where the occupant would own the home, as well as the land.

George is survived by a nephew, Adam Mirr; first cousins Glenn King, Laurie King; third cousin Narin (Jay) Selthofner, who always included George and Celest in holiday meals and Friday fish fries; other cousins; and many long-time friends.

Special thanks to Martha Janz and Narin Selthofner, who stood by him daily during hospice, the hospice nurses, and all the friends and family who stopped by or called, providing food and good wishes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Celest King; his brother, Myron King; and his sister, Celest King.

As a gift to the community, George has commissioned a statue of Green Lake’s last Indian chief, Henaga (Highknocker). It will be placed just west of the parking lot at Hattie Sherwood campground.

Visitation for George will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, 515 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971, followed by a brief funeral service at 4:00 pm, with Rev. Karen Gygax Rodriguez officiating. Interment will take place at Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake with a final salute and full military honors. A fellowship meal will follow at the American Legion Hall, 518 Water St., Green Lake, WI 54941. A memorial is being established in George’s name.