George P. Archibald

George Patrick Archibald, 88, of Greendale, Wis., died Thursday, February 20, 2025. He was born March 30, 1936, in Elwood, Ill. He was a farmer, airplane pilot and lifelong Catholic. He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Julie. He was a loving father of John, Michael (Ann), Karen (Peter) Parks, Kate (Matt) Althoff and Dave (Jennifer) and grandfather of Rachel, Maureen, Olivia, John, George, Sebastian, Jacob, Bridget, Alice, Margaret, James, Molly, Timothy, Veronica, Matthew, Daniel, Casimir, Teresa, Chiara, Luke and Levi. Brother of Ann (Joe) Deck. George was preceded in death by his parents Ivan and Alice (nee Lacey) Archibald, his sister Rosemary Goss, and infant sister Mary. George was born on the farm of his grandparents near Symerton, Ill. amidst the Great Depression. The expansion of the Joliet arsenal before World War II forced the family to relocate to farms in New Lenox, Ill. He farmed full-time with his father raising Angus cattle, corn and soybeans. He was active in 4-H. George graduated from Joliet Catholic High School, St. Joseph College, then from Purdue University. In the early 1960s, Gene Gear of New Lenox turned part of his farm into a grass strip airport, next to the main Archibald farm. George traded engine repairs in exchange for Gene offering flight instruction. George earned his private pilot license and advanced certificates, including his ground school and flight instructor ratings, keeping in touch with former flight students for many years. In 1967, Jeanette Greenley, wife of retired Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Treasurer Maxmillian Greenley, both of New Lenox, Ill., matchmaked their niece, the former Julianne (Julie) Greenley of Wilmette, Ill., with George, introducing the two of them at an event at Chicago Stadium. George and Julie married four months later. After marriage, George left full-time farming for a banking career at First National of Joliet Bank. A few years later he got word of an opportunity to fly charter airplanes out of East Troy, Wis. He moved his wife and three young children to Wisconsin. Six years later, on Father's Day 1977, he began flying for Briggs & Stratton Corp. at Mitchell Field of Milwaukee, Wis. He worked full-time for Briggs & Stratton until age 74 and as a reserve pilot until age 79. He had many flying stories to share. He flew the Stratton family many times to Cable, Wisconsin. He also flew Edmund B. Fitzgerald, son of the namesake of the iron ore carrier. He flew the Milwaukee Journal election edition in 1976 up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Bob Hope, Colin Powell, and hundreds of others spent time in the air with George at the controls. He was also one of the last verified airplanes in the air Sept. 11, 2001, with a powerful story of events that day. George had a special connection with and was grateful for the pilots he flew with over the years. George could fix anything. He never called repairmen or took his car in for service. As his children grew, you would sometimes find one of their cars in his driveway needing to be fixed. He helped frame finished basements, fixed the plumbing, painted, and took on many other handyman tasks at his childrens’ houses. They appreciated learning beside his patient expertise. He was a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan and took great joy in seeing his children’s and grandchildren’s sports events. He traveled to Canada, Ireland, and Guatemala, and also twice to Ecuador for service work in Quito. At home, his garden flourished every year, usually with too much zucchini. George was an usher at St. Josaphat Basilica and volunteered with parishioners every month to cook the chicken dinner for St. Vincent de Paul. He volunteered with Boy Scouts of America, Men of Christ, the pro-life cause in many forms, and Habitat for Humanity. He was working on a Habitat house two days before his stroke last June. George loved and lived life to the fullest; he was a humble, hardworking and holy man. He and Julie had a profound respect for each other. He gave her whatever she needed at every stage of their marriage. He had a tender place in his heart for unborn children in danger of abortion and for their mothers, for the poor or homeless, and for veterans. His fervor for life surprised the medical staff at St. Luke’s Hospital as he overcame physical limitations from his stroke and fought glioblastoma without a complaint. His frequent, humble jokes and selfless attitude once had the nurses arguing over who got to take care of him. For many, George served as a witness that the journey toward sainthood is a call to normal, everyday people. His devotion to Mass, regular Confession, daily rosary, and spiritual reading were unwavering and fueled his love for God, the Church, family, and those in need. Memorials to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Basilica of St. Josaphat or Pro-Life Wisconsin would be appreciated. Visitation Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at Rozga Funeral & Cremation Services – Lincoln Village Chapel (703 W. Lincoln Av., Milwaukee). Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 AM at the BASILICA OF ST. JOSAPHAT (601 W. Lincoln Av., Milwaukee) (Please Meet at Church). Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.