George Sportel Jr.

George Sportel, Jr. Nov. 16, 1930 - October 13, 2014           George Sportel, Jr., age 83, of Prinsburg, died unexpectedly Monday afternoon Oct. 13, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar from injuries from a fall.           Services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, October 18, at First Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg.  Visitation will be Friday 5-7 PM at the Tri-County Funeral Home in Prinsburg and at the church one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be in the Holland Township Cemetery.  Memorials are preferred to Rice Hospice in Willmar, First Christian Reformed Church or Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg.(www.tricountyfuneral.com)           George Sportel, Jr. was born on November 16, 1930, in Roseland Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the son of Jennie (Hoogerman) and George Sportel, Sr.  He grew up in the Roseland area and attended District 91 school.   On April 1, 1952, he was married to Grace Marcus and they made their home in Prinsburg.  George worked for Willmar Manufacturing for 30 years serving as a supervisor.  He was a member of the Prinsburg Fire Department for 20 years, and served many years on the Prinsburg Village Council and as President of the Tri-County Burial Association.  George’s first wife, Grace, died on February 27, 1999.  George remarried on June 16, 2001, to Marcella Ann (Roelofs) Ulferts.  He was a lifelong member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg and served as a Deacon and Elder and belonged to the Men’s Bible Study Groups.  George was a committed family man and a friend to all.  He enjoyed traveling, visiting and playing games with family and friends.  His love for family extended to wherever his kids and grandkids lived. Anyone who came into contact with George was blessed by his kind and gentle nature, encouragement, sincere faith, and sense of humor.           He is survived by his wife, Marcella of Prinsburg, 3 sons; Robert (and Kathy) Sportel of Prinsburg, Randall (and Deb) Sportel of Grand Rapids, MI, and Joel (and Susan) Sportel of Grand Rapids, MI, 1 daughter, Diane (and Daniel) Ridderhoff of Colorado Springs, CO, 1 stepson, Warren Ulferts of Albuquerque, NM and 1 stepdaughter, Rosaleen (and Norman) Marcus of Lafayette, LA.  Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 4 step great grandchildren, 1 sister, Janet (and Clarence) Ledeboer of Minneapolis, 1 brother-in-law; Phil (and Barb) Gernaat of Kalamazoo, MI and sister-in-law, Donna Sportel of Atwater, besides other relatives and friends.           George was preceded in death by his parents, 1st wife Grace in 1999, 4 brothers; Dick, Claus, Benjamin and infant Ben Sportel, 2 sisters; Ella Gernaat and Grace Blom, and 3 sisters-in-law; Louise Sportel, Grace (Mrs. Claus) Sportel and Grace (Mrs. Dick) Sportel, and 1 brother-in-law, Albert Blom.                                   

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