George Portfleet

George Portfleet went to Heaven Monday February 4, 2019. George grew up on a farm on the west side of Grand Rapids surrounded by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Growing up, George had a passion for hunting and fishing which he pursued throughout his life. He enjoyed hunting with his brothers and spending time on the lake, and he especially enjoyed spending time at his cottage in Ludington with his wife Mary and their labrador retrievers. George was a man firmly rooted in his faith in God and often shared his faith with others. He also shared his pride in his family, his wife, brothers, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was happy and at peace with his life. George attended Grand Rapids Union High School and Western Michigan University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. George was an educator in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, where he served as a teacher and principal. He enjoyed his work and was blessed to meet and impact many people in the course of his 37-year education career. After retiring from the school system, he found what he described as his “dream job” meeting more people while working part time at Gander Mountain in a sales position. Later, George enjoyed working on projects around the house and cottage and looking after his yellow labradors Fischer and Cashmere. George was preceded in death by his father and mother, George “Bud” and Cicely Portfleet. He is survived by his wife Mary, brothers Terrance (Dianne) and Timothy (Lori) Portfleet, children George (Susan) Portfleet, Mary (John) Vierheller, and Thomas Wiesner, grandchildren George Portfleet, Carolann (Stuart) Hardy, Jacob Vierheller, great grandchildren Josephine and Theodore Hardy and nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 9, at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Friends may visit with family beginning at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Degage Ministries or Western Michigan Teen Challenge. www.lifestorynet.com