George Joseph Brendel

George Joseph Brendel, 85, of Aberdeen, passed away Monday, September 7, 2015, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 11, 2015, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen, with Father Mark Lichter as Celebrant.

Burial, with military rites, will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the mortuary with a liturgical wake service and rosary being held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Friday.

George was born on June 16, 1930, to Walter and Bernadine (Geier) Brendel in Aberdeen, SD, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital. He and his sister Joann were the first set of boy and girl twins born in Aberdeen. George attended school in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School. Following graduation, he began working for the South Dakota State Highway Sign Shop where he worked for over 40 years and retired as the foreman of the shop.

George enlisted in the United States Army in 1951, and served his country during the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1953.

George and Veronica Schwab were united into marriage at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen on September 17, 1951. They were blessed with eight children: Linda, Peggy, Rick, Randy, Brenda, Julie, Judy, and Deborah.

George was an avid fisherman who loved to spend time at his second home in Mobridge at the Missouri River. He also enjoyed bowling, hunting, gardening, playing cards, cooking, and listening to "old-time" music. George's passion was making soup and making sure everyone had some to take home. He loved when his family gathered for the holidays, especially Christmas. He also thoroughly enjoyed his most recent vacation when he traveled to North Carolina to visit family.

George was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great great-grandfather.

George was a member of Scared Heart Catholic Church, The American Legion, and The Veterans of Foreign Wars in Aberdeen.

He was preceded into death by his parents; wife, Veronica in 2010; infant daughter, Judy; six sisters: Eva Dosch, Helen Drager, Catherine Gross, Rose Jeannert, Marie Chandler, and Joann Heilman; and one brother, Walter Brendel.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his seven children: Linda (Glenn) Kiefer of Aberdeen and their children: Jim Kiefer, Genean (Dennis) Chicoine, and Janelle Kiefer; Peggy (William) Kimball of Aberdeen and their children: Kevin Kimball and Brandon Kimball; Rick (Debbie) Brendel of Franklin, NC and their children: Kayla (Clay) Auld, Courtney Brendel, Stephen Brendel, Sarah (D.J.) Seay and Josiah Brendel; Randy Brendel of Aberdeen; Brenda (Greg) Geditz of Ipswich, SD and their children: Melissa Smith, Melinda Smith, Matthew Geditz, and Maxwell Geditz; Julie (Brian) Jones of Aberdeen and their son, Jordan Jones; Deborah (Martin) Looyenga of Mobridge, SD and their children: Eric Looyenga, Aryn Looyenga, and Alexa Looyenga; 14 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; three great great-grandchildren; one sister, Beatrice "Bea" Hawkins of Aberdeen; one brother-in-law, Clarence Heilman of Rapid City, SD; one sister-in-law, Nyla Schwab of Milwaukee, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews.