George was born in Davidson, Saskatchewan to Fred and Maria (Lueck) Kochendorfer, the 2nd-youngest of 10 children. Growing up on a struggling farm he learned how to be innovative and creative in fixing things, a skill that served him well throughout his life.
At 21 he moved to Calgary where he met his love, Ruth, at the Full Gospel Church. They were married June 25, 1955. After short forays to Edmonton and London, Ontario, they built a life in SW Calgary centred around their church.
George was an amazing problem-solver who could fix anything; he never rested until he came up with a solution or work-around: the original MacGyver. He put these skills to work with Singer/Friden Business Machines for several years, but in the early 70’s went into real estate. His confidence, humour and honesty made him a very successful realtor and he won many industry awards throughout his career, including top realtor in Calgary in 1977.
Music was a big part of George’s life and country gospel was his genre of choice. He was self-taught on upright and electric bass and played in trios and gospel groups well into his senior years. He was also a joker and loved word puns; whomever coined the phrase “Dad joke” must have known George. He never went anywhere without his pen, comb and “diamond clip”, which was a paperclip attached to a dime. And the December holidays weren’t complete without George wishing everyone a “Mary Poppins and a Hippie New Year”!
Family time was important to George and his three daughters grew up in a home where weekend adventures with extended family and summer vacations were the norm. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, motorhome trips to BC, summers at the family cottage at Sunnyside Camp in Sylvan Lake, and Spring Break in Waikiki; George was proud to provide for his family in this way. He was a kind man who considered the generations of family cats and dogs to be full members of the family.
In 1990 George and Ruth semi-retired to Langley, BC and spent part of their winters in Arizona. After a heart attack in 1991 George retired from real estate, but still enjoyed fixing things and repaired small appliances and vacuums part-time. George has 3 grandchildren and spent a lot of time with them as they grew up.
After years of managing the increasingly insurmountable challenges from heart failure, George went to Glory. His faith in God was a strong and constant thread through his life. He was a loving husband, a committed father and a faithful friend. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters and sons-in-law, Terri (Gordon), Jill (Stephen) and Gayle (Howard); his grandchildren, Lindsay, Rachel and Michael; and two brothers, Carl and Lyle, and many nieces & nephews.
A service will be held in late January. If desired, a donation can be made to the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of George Leonard Kosh December 10th 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Aldergrove, Province: Colombie britanique