George A Comeau

George A. Comeau, 97, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho on Thursday, December 27, 2012. George was born April 27, 1915 in Clyde, Kansas, the seventh of 13 children. As a member of a farm family he learned the value of hard work early in life. He only had the opportunity for an 8th grade education, having to work to help out on the farm. When Kansas was hit by the depression and the dust bowl, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, becoming a cook and mess sergeant in a camp in the Minnesota north woods. The cooking and food management experience led to a career in the restaurant business. George joined the migration to California in 1937. He met Lucille Brooks in 1938, marrying her in 1939. After the start of World War II, he worked in the Kaiser shipyards in Oakland as a welder in the construction of Liberty Ships. Following the war the family settled in Salinas, California where he ultimately opened a restaurant that he operated for 10 years after which he opened a successful car washing business. George and Lucille had three children—Barbara Wynhausen, Sandpoint, ID; George Comeau, Bremerton, WA; and Mary Schmidt, Salinas, CA; all of whom survive him. Lucille died in 1999. He moved to Sandpoint in 2005. He leaves behind his three children, 10 grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sibling, Rose Karlin of Hays, Kansas. Memorial contributions can made to Bonner County Food Center and Bonner Partners in Care both in Sandpoint, ID.