George passed away peacefully at his home on May 12th surrounded by his family. He was 92 years old. Born on November 14, 1927 in New York City to Johanna (Muller) and J. Harold Thomsen, George was baptized on March 18, 1928 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hollis, New York. He was confirmed there in 1941 and the love for his church family remained an important part of his life until the end.
George attended Concordia Collegiate Institute in Bronxville, New York and graduated from Valparaiso University in 1949. It was that year that he proposed to Joan Dorothy Hillmann, also a student at Valparaiso. They were married on September 9, 1950 at The Village Church in Bronxville, New York. This coming September would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.
Following his graduation George taught briefly at the Chapel of Redeemer Lutheran School, then spent six years as a contract administrator for Westinghouse Electric International and the Westinghouse Corporation. In 1955 he joined John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (Publishers) for whom he worked for 30 years. He was eventually named Vice President of Hamilton Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Wiley, and Marketing Manager of Wiley’s Educational Group. George officially retired in 1985.
Following his retirement, George felt he had more to offer and was employed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation as a Historical Guide and Supervisor at Hearst Castle in California. George always loved history and public speaking. This position was a perfect fit and he enjoyed many years giving tours on Hearst’s “Enchanted Hill”.
In 1991 George and Joan decided to move to Port Townsend, Washington. They were both active in the Kala Point Community where they resided. George was a former member of the Fort Worden Advisory Committee and with Joan both shared Director’s duties at the Commanding Officer’s Quarters Heritage Museum at Fort Worden. George was also an active volunteer at Centrum, the Port Townsend Visitor’s Center, The Jefferson County Historical Society, and the Northwest Maritime Center. They were both devoted members of Grace Lutheran Church.
George always enjoyed the outdoors, whether camping or hiking. He and Joan enjoyed traveling, time with family and friends, reading, music, cooking, entertaining and just being together. He was a loving spouse, a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife Joan, children Jeanne, Mark and Carsten and their respective spouses Barry, Kathy and Nicole. George had six grandchildren, Ryan, Brandon, Lindsey, Morgan, Yi and Xinhe as well as four great-grandchildren, Addison, Kate, Makena and Xavier.
