George E. Banning

George Banning was born to Frank and Nancy (Francis) Banning on November 19, 1921 in Spirit Lake, Iowa. He graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1939. Beginning in October 1942, George served his country in the 96th Infantry "Deadeye" Division during WWII, seeing action in Okinawa and Leyte. He was honorably discharged in January, 1946. George was united in marriage to Betty Hummel in Jackson, Minnesota on December 7, 1943. He worked for Northwestern Bell/U.S. West for over thirty-five years before retiring in 1983. George has been a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church for over sixty years as well as a member of the VFW and Telephone Pioneers. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, woodworking, and volunteer work, which included providing hearts for the hospital "Tree of Love" for several years. George was a kind, gentle man who would do anything for anyone. He loved his family and was proud of his girls, sons-in-law and grandchildren. He made many trips with Betty to visit his family in St. Louis and Texas. Those visits were always highly anticipated and such fun. For several years, he attended his annual Army reunions and reminisced with the men he fought side by side with in the war. They became life long friends with a special bond. George truly was an honored member of "The Greatest Generation" and he will be missed by his friends and family. George passed away on December 30, 2007 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa at eighty-six years of age. He is survived by his daughters, Marcia Lundberg and her husband Gary of Spirit Lake and Melanie Christensen and her husband Craig of McAllen, TX; grandchildren, Kim Lundberg of O'Fallon, MO, Kara Gilmartin and her husband Scott of Wildwood, MO, Kory Lundberg and his wife, Angie, of Bella Vista, AR and Nick Christensen of Spirit Lake; six great-grandchildren, Zachary and C.J. Gilmartin, Deja and Bryn Lundberg and Raylee and Dalton Lundberg. Survivors also include two sisters, Bernie Kolpin and her husband Lee of Estherville and Leah Peters of Clear Lake; brothers and sisters-in-law, Doyne Hummel, Dick and Mary Lou Ayres and Dean and Elayne Hummel; several dear nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of sixty years, Betty; brother, Frank; sister-in-law, Louise Banning and brothers-in-law, Johnny Hummel and Everett Peters.