George Lode

r. George Lode passed away at his home in Petaluma, California on September 1, 2024. George was born on June 2, 1941 in Riga, Latvia to his mother, Velta (Zaravics) Lode, and father, Arnolds Lode. George and his family moved to Parchment in 1949, where they were sponsored by the Parchment United Methodist Church. He graduated from University High School in Kalamazoo in 1960, where he was on the track team and excelled in the 880. He enjoyed running until the last years of his life.

George married his wife, Karen (Bachman) Lode, on August 3, 1962. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1964 and received his M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1968. Following medical school, George was an intern at Borgess Medical Center from 1968 to 1969 and a surgical resident at Bronson Medical Center from 1969 to 1970. He was then in private practice as a physician in Parchment from 1970 to 1990.

George and Karen moved to Redding, California in 1990, where he was in private practice as a physician until 2007. Following his retirement from private practice, George was a staff physician at Shasta Community Health Center in the City of Shasta Lake, California from 2007 to 2023, after which he and Karen moved to Petaluma to be closer to their children.

George is survived by Karen, his wife of 62 years; his son and now daughter-in-law, Eric and Cynthia (Wilcox) Lode of San Francisco, California; his daughter and future son-in-law, Melissa Lode and Sean Melchionda, of Mill Valley, California; and his brother and sister-in-law, Eglis and Karen Lode, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

George was an avid wine enthusiast, hiker, runner, nature lover, and traveler. He will be remembered by all as a warm, loving, and kind man who touched so many lives. George will be loved by his family for the rest of our time.