George O. ‘Big George’ Sletten Sr.

George O. “Big George” Sletten Sr., 83, passed away peacefully at Golden Living Center on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, with his family at his side.

He was born in Superior on Sept. 21, 1926, to Dora and Oren Sletten, and had been a lifelong resident.

He retired from the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1986 where he had been employed for 40 years. He was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and the Green Bay Packers. He coached the South End Dukes Peewee Baseball Team for many years and his teams won many city and county championships going undefeated many times.

He was a member of Holy Assumption Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

George served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1953.

He married Bernadine DeRosia in 1953 and they enjoyed 43 years together.

He was preceded in death by his mother Dora, his father Oren, his wife Bernie, a son Timothy, a daughter, Bonnie Buck and a sister, Hazel Hill.

George is survived by a son George (Evie) Sletten, South Range; one daughter, Kimberly “Sam” (Grant) Koskie, Superior; two stepdaughters, Mary (Ed) Hattenberger, Hinckley, Minn., and Carol Zaller, Gheen, Minn; one stepson, Gerald (Linda) Soyring, Maple; 15 grandchildren, Chad, Brian, Stacy, Shawn, Spencer, Pamela, Bernie, Lynette, Carla, Mona, Kelly, Kim, Wally, Jamie and Rhonda; many great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 with a scripture service scheduled for 6 p.m. that evening in the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home.

Visitation will continue 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec.10 until the 1 p.m. PM Mass of Christian burial at Holy Assumption Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Ronald Olson, as celebrant.

Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery.

Pallbearers for the service will be Mike Hill, Chad Sletten, Brian Sletten, Grant Koskie, Ed Hattenberger, Andy Gasparini.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dann Ericson, Shawn Koskie, Spencer Koskie and Brad Warner.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Unit at Golden Living Center of Superior or the Superior Youth Baseball.

Send a condolence or sign the online guest book at www.lenroot-maetzold.com.

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