George Hallemann

George Raymond Hallemann enjoyed a lifetime of challenges and successes. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning advanced degrees from Saint Louis University. At the age of 23 he enlisted in the Navy, as he had heard that the Navy had better food. After officer training at Notre Dame University, he spent WWII in the northern Pacific stationed in the Aleutians, and on at least one occasion served as captain for one of his ship's many escort runs. In remote Alaska, north of the timber line, he began dabbling in slide photography; many shots of snowbound buildings and dramatic Northern Lights displays exist as testament to his eye for the transcendent in nature. The United States Naval Service moved him to inactive duty in 1948 and on his notice of honorable discharge he is listed as receiving a World War II Victory Ribbon, an American Theater Ribbon, and an Asiatic Pacific honor. On this same document he lists as his job preferences Tax Specialist, CPA, and Accountant. Post war, George met his future wife Lucille while working in Kansas City for the Conoco Oil Company. In the mid-fifties George and Lucille moved to Dearborn, Michigan, as George had landed a job with The Ford Motor Company. In 1960 he took a position with The Chrysler Corporation back in his home town, St. Louis, as chief bookkeeper for the St. Louis assembly plant. In 1964 he received a promotion to the corporate level and became a Financial Analyst in the Comptroller's office, moving back to the Detroit area. For the next sixteen years his head was awash in figures. He called himself a numbers juggler. I (his eldest son) can recall him telling me frankly that at that time a plant needed to produce 100, 000 cars per year to be profitable. In the depths of the late-seventies recession, at some sort of large dinner gathering, a fellow executive pulled my mother aside and told her that George was single-handedly keeping Chrysler out of bankruptcy. After retirement from Chrysler in 1980, George kept himself busy. He continued to work part time for Chrysler, doing the books for MoTech. He taught accounting classes at Oakland University. All these years he walked with a strong faith in God and a deep religious conviction. Nearly all of his reading was devotional and contemplative in nature. Perhaps his favorite book was a 1948 edition of Hymns to the Virgin. Throughout his life he has continually supported many Catholic churches and Catholic charities. He will always be remembered and missed by those who knew him. Loving husband of the late Lucille for 57 years. Devoted father of James (Kimberlee) and Joseph. Graveside services in the St. Patrick's Cemetery, Emerald, Kansas will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2013. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .