George Hinz

George D. Hinz, 86. of Kalamazoo, died on December 25, 2009, of acute complications of cardio-vascular disease. Born in South Haven, Michigan, on May 9, 1923, he was the youngest child of Robert (Roy) and Albertina (Hope) Hinz. George graduated from South Haven High School in 1941. After working for a year, he began studies at Michigan State College in East Lansing in the fall of 1942, where he completed one term before entering the U.S. Navy. His naval service as a Pharmacist’s Mate took him to the Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal and Bougainville. Upon his return from the Pacific, George married his high school sweetheart, Martha L. Warner, in San Francisco in August of 1945.

Following the war, George and Martha returned to South Haven where George worked for Pierce-Williams Company before joining the South Haven Board of Public Works in 1947. He retired from the City in 1984 as Superintendent of the Water Filtration Plant.

George was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Harriet Hills, Frieda Brinks and Margaret Heiman, and his brothers, Al and Roy Hinz.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Hinz, and his daughters, Janice (Dennis) Burke of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Mary (David) O’Rourke of Scottsdale, Arizona; and his son, John (Emily Garber) Hinz of Phoenix, Arizona. Six grandchildren survive him as well.

Funeral service will be on Wednesday, December 30 at 11:00 AM at First Congregational Church with Rev. Jeffrey Dick officiating. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of South Haven, the Historical Association of South Haven or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.