George Robert Walker

Memorial Mass will be 11 am Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Frank Perkovich celebrating. A visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Thursday at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert and will continue one hour prior to mass at the church.  Military honors accorded by the Gilbert VFW.  Inurnment will be at a later date. George Robert Walker, 84, passed away on April 19, 2018. George was born March 26, 1934 to Hazelle (Dooley) & Ralph Walker at home—on the family farm—in Clearwater, MN.  He was the oldest of their 5 children. His family moved around but settled in Duluth, MN where he attended Duluth East High School. After graduating from East in 1953, he worked at Inter-Lakes Steamship on the Ore Boats.  He was then hired by Northwestern Bell but was drafted into the Army on May 20, 1956. He served two years in the army and was formally discharged from the reserves in 1962. After his two-year army stint, he returned to work for Northwestern Bell in Duluth. He met and married the love of his life, Nina, in Virginia, in 1959.  They had four beautiful daughters, and he always said he would “Never trade them for anything!” In 1978 his job with the telephone company brought him to Gilbert, MN where he and Nina lived for 39 years. He retired from Northwestern Bell in 1986 but stayed busy as a realtor until Nina’s Retirement in 2000. George enjoyed hunting, walleye fishing, Lake Vermillion, golf, and watching sports—especially hockey.  He coached and refereed hockey in Duluth and was instrumental in starting the Spirit of Duluth Hockey Tournament.  He was a UMD Hockey supporter for 40 years and was very happy to see his favorite team take first place in the NCAA Frozen Four.  He belonged to the Telephone Pioneers and regularly attended the Pioneer Retiree events. After his retirement, he and Nina spent winters in Winterhaven, Florida enjoying the weather, playing golf, and socializing with many friends.  He always said, “I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful family” and was always ready with a smile, a hug, and a “smooch.” He is preceded in death by his parents Hazelle (Dooley) & Ralph Walker; brother, Thomas Walker; son-in-law, Michael Bianchet; and other extended family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Nina (Kennedy) Walker; daughters: Cathy Bianchet, Colleen (Jerry) Wallis, Wendy (Michael) Wells, Jill (Timothy) Lekatz; grandchildren: Sarah Bianchet, Joe Bianchet, Megan (Tim) Zubich, Mara Wallis, Paige Wallis, Kylie (Jacob) Krugen, Matthew (Christine) Lekatz , Andrew Lekatz; great-grandsons: his “little buddy” Avery Zubich and two-week old Rayden Krugen; siblings Dean (Jean) Walker, Duane (JoAnn) Walker, Iona (Kenneth) Erickson; sisters-in-law Linda Walker and Patricia Briggs; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.