George L. Briere

He was born on August 26, 1948 in Escanaba, Mich., son of Ernest and Lorraine (Richer) Briere.

George was born in Escanaba, raised in Schaffer until his family moved to Wells where he attended grade school and graduated from Escanaba Senior High School in 1966.

George served in the U.S. Army 199th Infantry Brigade. He was awarded with the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

On May 5, 1979, George married Mary Lynn Larsen in Escanaba.

He was employed with Mead Paper for 40 years, retiring as a boiler operator in 2010.

Throughout his years, he took many hiking and bicycle trips around the U.P. and beyond. When his children were growing up, he gave them many adventures by taking them on bicycle and camping trips and motorcycle trips out west on his Harley. George also ventured for awhile in a tractor business named Green Thumb Tractors with a friend. He liked spending time out at camp with family and friends. He enjoyed playing cribbage and some of his favorite times were playing 31 with his neighborhood buddies. Every fall you would see him outside cutting and piling his firewood to keep his family warm. He had a passion for planting, especially trees and he loved nurturing and watching them grow. He loved being outdoors and basking in God’s creation. He had the greatest sense of humor and you could recognize his laugh anywhere. George treasured his family and his goal was to live each and every day to the fullest, which he did. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on by all those who loved him.

He was a member of the Escanaba Church of Christ and the American Legion.

Among survivors include his wife, Mary Lynn (Larsen) Briere of Bark River; children, George (Merissa) Briere of Gladstone, Erin (Jason) Davis of Bark River, Mich. and Kevin (Greta) Briere of Lansing; grandchildren, Gianna, Axel, and Roc Briere, Kaiya, Caleb, and Cole Davis, and Aleksi, and Benjamin Briere; three brothers, Robert (Bobbie) Briere of Gladstone, Ken (Nanette) Briere of Escanaba, and Joe (Alice) Briere of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

George was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be on Monday, November 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Church of Christ, 5079 18th Rd., Escanaba. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. with Pastor David Grant officiating.

Burial will take place in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Schaffer.

A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net.

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Briere family