Obituary of George E. Padrnos

"Georgeous" George E. Padrnos, age 90, longtime Yankton, SD resident, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Robert Wullweber celebrating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD, with Military Graveside Rites by the Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard and the SDARNG Honor Guard. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, with a rosary at 7:00 PM and Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. George was born May 31, 1925 in Geddes, SD to George and Lillian (Honner) Padrnos. He later moved to Lake Andes, SD, graduating at age 16 from high school. He attended Southern Teacher's College at Springfield for one year then entered the service, training as a navigator on B29s in the Air Force. After the end of the war he returned to college at the University of South Dakota earning a degree in education. Throughout high school and college George was a sports fanatic. Though he loved all sports, basketball was his favorite. He lettered all 4 years in high school, in his year at Southern, and at USD. He also played service ball with the Albuquerque Second Air Force team. George returned to take a teaching/coaching position at Lake Andes and married "that little Vesely girl" Eleanor Jane Vesely on August 22, 1949. They later moved to Pickstown, Corsica, and Bonesteel for teaching and superintendent jobs. He and his family returned to Lake Andes in 1955 to run the Dairy Queen, teach and coach football and basketball. He was an excellent coach, taking a state team title in football and having excellent records in both sports. In 1960, George and family moved to Yankton to open the "Georgie Porgie" drive-in restaurant. He traveled to Purdue University in Indiana to finish up his Master's degree in Guidance and Counseling and returned to Yankton to work in education as a guidance counselor at the Yankton Public Middle School, principal at Beadle Elementary School, principal at Sacred Heart School, and later commuted to Irene to work as principal and superintendent at Irene Public School. He owned a number of businesses including the A&W, Norge Village Laundromat, and the Cork and Bottle. He sold real estate with the motto "Let George do it!". George is best known for his optimism and encouragement of those around him. He touched the lives of many, many students and absolutely loved people and interacting with people. His desk was full of cards and letters from former students and grandchildren and he kept them all. He had a great sense of humor and often joked that 5 of his 6 kids turned out OK. He was active in Sacred Heart parish singing in the choir and attending daily Mass. As a member of the Knights of Columbus he burned many a piece of toast at the KC breakfasts. He was a longtime supporter of Mount Marty College athletics and was honored to be a Lancer Legend. He volunteered in many ways including delivering meals on wheels and visiting people in the nursing home. He was a wonderful father to his six children, and greatly enjoyed his grandchildren. George is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eleanor; one sister, Patricia Borgen, Slidell, LA.; one brother Dick (Dona), Boulder, CO; three in-laws: Don Peterson, Sioux City, IA; Diane Padrnos, Austin, TX; and Harlan Vesely, Seattle, WA.; four sons: Dave (Paula) Yuma, AZ., and grandchildren Jessica, Leslie, Ellen; George (Kelly) Yankton SD., and grandchildren: Chris, Shay, Lexy; Pat (Chevon) Flagstaff, AZ., and grandchildren Sarah and Jamie; Mark(Carsi) Mt. Vernon, WA, and grandchildren Jira and Max; two daughters Paula (Dan Hicks) Yankton, SD, and grandchildren: Caitlin, Sarah, Holly; Jill (Tom Leisure) Clear Lake, IA, and grandchildren Ryan, Mallory, and Madison; four great grandchildren: Clara, Jack, Rylee, and Trynlee and numerous nieces and nephews. George is preceded in death by his parents, George James and Lillian Evelyn (Honner) Padrnos; one brother, Dennis; two sisters, Elaine Petersen and Betty Becker; Brothers-in-law: Ivan Borgen, Max Becker, Richard Vesely; and niece, Barbara Becker-Meyers. A memorial fund will be set up in George's honor at the Yankton Catholic Community Foundation Office, 509 Capital, Yankton, SD 57078 to encourage math, science, and sports