George Rivest

George Arthur Rivest, age 95, of Escanaba passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Christian Park Village.
George was born January 3, 1921 in Escanaba, the son of James and Lumenia (Derouin) Rivest. He graduated from the Escanaba High School in 1938. In 1939 George was united in marriage to Beverly Mae Brunette. He served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 and was a veteran of World War II serving aboard the USS LSM 102. He was honored to be a member of the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight in 2013. George was a longtime member of the Gladstone American Legion August Mattson Post 71, where he served as Commander three times, held every office at the Legion and was a Past District Commander. He was a member of 40 & 8 Chef de Gare for 70 years, serving as Grand Chef Cheminot. George worked as a conductor for the Soo Line Railroad for many years and retired in 1981. It was also in 1981 that George married Carol Edna Langager. George was hard working, kind, generous and a devoted father. He never forgot a name or a face. He was a tremendous chess and card player and loved to feed the deer.

George is survived by his wife, Carol Rivest of Escanaba, three daughters, Sharyn Rivest of Rapid River, Pat (Tom) Schulze of Westcliffe, Colorado, and Mary (Craig) Westlund of Rock; his son, James Rivest of Grand Blanc, Michigan and step-son, Brian Flath of Escanaba; eight grandchildren, Zachary and Gavin Rivest, Lisa Bryan, Mark Wrast, Kristie Heminger, Jessica Thibault, Meggan Branstrom and Chelsea Bicigo and twelve great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Beverly, his son, Walter “Skip”, granddaughter, Carla Choate and his parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday at 10:00 AM at All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone with Rev. Fr. Fran DeGroot and Rev. Fr. Brian Gerber officiating. A visitation will be held following the Mass from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Military Honors will be presented at 2:00 PM by the Gladstone American Legion August Mattson Post 71. George will be laid to rest in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery at 2:45 PM. A luncheon will be served, following the interment, at the Gladstone American Legion.