A Great Loss

My Grandpa George passed away early last Saturday. He was a veteran and one the last few living survivors of the war in the area he lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Luca is named after my grandfather's grandfather Luca and I will always regret that Luca never got to meet his great-grandfather George. He was out if it at the end due to pain medication and his organs failing. My dad and aunt spend his last few days with him saying goodbye.

His picture is the way I will always remember him. I learned a lot about him in my adult years, he spoke five languages that he learned from his family as well as during the war. I listened and read about what he really endured in the war and how much battle he really saw with the first armored division. I recently watched the war documentary on PBS and they described in detail what the men in his division went through and how many men they lost, over half if I remember the stats right, and they were virtually left to fend for themselves at times during the war. It was their push from Africa up through Italy that helped us gain victory in the end. Of course I am not a history buff so there are many more details but the idea of what he went through floored me at times. His sense of honor to his country was evident through my whole life, he was was the one who taught me about the flag and to never ever let it touch the ground (even if it was a little parade flag on the 4th of July it still deserved our respect).

Grandpa lived in his home until the last year when his health started to fail to the point where his multiple trips to McDonalds for a burger with mustard only were cut out and he was no longer able to drive. He still made it to church whenever he could and was very proud to take us to church whenever we visited. He was also survivor of cancer and not only the war. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic and strength. He was loved and will be missed.

From his Obituary:

"George Orlich, 91, of McMillan, Michigan passed away early Saturday morning October 11, 2008 at the Shady Lane AFC Home in Lakefield Township.
Born April 24, 1917 in Hurley, WI, son of Rade & Milosava (Susnar) Orlich, George was a 1935 graduate of Wakefield High School. George married the former Blanche E. Berry of Newberry on December 24, 1941 in Munising. She preceded him in death on January 8, 1995.
Following high school, he joined the CCC's at Camp Germfask before being drafted into the US Army immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served for four years in Europe and North Africa in the 1st Armored Division. Upon returning home, he returned to Germfask to work for the US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. During his early years there, he was involved in the development of the refuge as a heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1973 after 37 years of service at Seney.
George initially lived in Germfask and then built a retirement home in McMillan to spend his final years there.
He was a life member of the Edward James Doran V.F.W. Post #8962 in Germfask and was also a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Newberry.
George was preceded in death by his father Rade, mother Milosava, step-mother Antonia, brother Louis, sisters-in-law Bonita and Flora and brother-in-law Vern.
He is survived by son Gary (Marilyn) of Marine on St. Croix, MN and daughter Cindy (Ray) Ayotte of Sanford, MI; four grandchildren, Megan (Rob) Sullivan, Andrew Orlich, Dustin Jussila and Ryan (Christie) Jussila; two great-grandsons Andrew Jussila and Luca Sullivan; two sisters Mary Halvorsen and Angie(Ronnie) Zaicek; six brothers Mike Orlich, Rudy Orlich, Frank (Virginia) Orlich, Richard Orlich, Joe Orlich and Robert Orlich. "