“Not only is a good prank harmless, but, like a good story,

it reveals an essential truth that would otherwise be hidden.”

Mac Barnett

As most of you know, George loved a good joke or prank, and one always had to be on their toes when around him. Maybe he peeled the label off of a canned good, propped a glass of water on top of a door, or even hid a garter snake nearby… There were also his riddles and well-placed jokes. Often witty and sometimes inappropriate – but that was George!

George Melvin was born on Sunday, May 24, 1953, to proud parents, George and Lola (Zisterer) Miskie. He was the youngest of three children, joining older sisters Anna Joyce and Dianne. The Miskie family initially resided in Bentinck Township on a farm, before moving to Elmwood in 1957, when George’s father bought the Elmwood Service Station. He attended public school in Elmwood, before moving on to high school in Chesley, graduating in 1971.

His childhood was filled with lots of fun and believe it or not the odd “timeout.” Honestly, the stories are endless. Ask Dianne about the suitcase of plums, or George’s showdown with the family rooster… one ate dinner, and the other was dinner that night! It was during these early years that George’s mother encouraged him to learn to write with his right hand (even though he was a lefty like her). This served him well in later years after his strokes. Like most boys, George watched his dad closely and often followed in his footsteps. Whether it was helping out at the gas station, or on the farm, George loved to be busy and outdoors. Nights out in these early years were often at the racetrack as George Sr. and family followed their racehorse.

Following high school, George began working at the Findlay Pallet Company in Scone. In 1971, George married Dorothy Karn, and together the young couple called a farm east of Chesley on Bruce Rd. 19 home. Together they welcomed their daughter, Lisa in 1977. By this time George had begun working for Hanover Kitchens before moving to Klemmer Sawmill where he was a skidder operator. This position took George on the road, as they logged all over the province, returning on weekends. In 1979, George and Dorothy began building their new home on the 14^th of Brant, with George helping with the build in any free time. Over the coming years, George spent time at Canada Spool & Bobbin in Walkerton, Heirloom and Crate Design, working a variety of jobs. Sadly, in 1999, he and Dorothy separated, whereby George eventually settled in Chesley.

Although George did not have a lot of down time, he did enjoy making time for hunting and fishing. Countless memories were made during their moose hunting trips up north with the hunting gang, as well as deer hunting locally with friends and family. He always looked forward to the preseason deer meetings (as we all know there is lots of planning that went into them…) and hanging out with the guys at the “bus.” There were also several fishing expeditions which even included a road trip to Lindsey with Dan and Darylann, along with canoe trips, and nature walks (which were excuses to scout out next the next location for a deer stand!). Back at home he was an avid reader, with the Farmers Almanac, and anything written by James Patterson or Louis L’Amour being his go-to’s. In fact, a book usually accompanied him in the car, as you never knew when you had a few minutes to fill. He also dabbled in woodworking and enjoyed an extensive DVD collection.

In the early 2000’s while working at Crate Design, George and a fellow co-worker began to take a liking to one another. Within months, he and Pam Klein began dating and were later married on August 23, 2003. Together they enjoyed life in Chesley, and spending time with family and friends. However, George had another major set back in 2006 when he suffered a severe stroke, which ultimately forced him to retire early. Thankfully with the support of Pam, family and friends, George was able to return home and quickly returned to his joking self! Although limited physically, his mind never suffered. In fact, I am told George had a remarkable memory and was able to retain a number of important dates, facts, and events. He always put family first, and on occasion was even known to stand up for them (and even fight for them) if needed. If that wasn’t enough then you were encouraged to kill your enemies with kindness. From a young age he encouraged Lisa to respect everyone, as an enemy could be your boss one day! His generosity was ever-present, and he would literally give you the shirt off of his back – even if he could not afford it. Helping others always can first!

In his younger years, George experienced his fair share of accidents. Whether getting hit by a tree, pinned or kicked by livestock, slipping off his truck’s tailgate onto a porcupine (ask Pam about that one) getting his fingers pinched. However, always the optimist, George would say, “If it weren’t for bad luck, you would have no luck!” Lisa remembers each spring when the lawnmower would suddenly stop for a couple of weeks, and everyone had to go morel mushroom hunting. There were also the weekly garbage runs, which were followed by a stop at Bentinck Packers for pepperettes and old cheddar cheese. He then proceeded to cut you a piece of both with his pocketknife (and who knows where that had been!) When entertaining, few trusted George’s 2-finger shots. All joking aside, George loved to dance and would always sing along at the campfire. When it came to food, George loved anything off of the BBQ. He always enjoyed a good cheeseburger, but it should be no surprise that steak was his favourite. When picking a steak he would always take the one on the bottom of the pile, as it was the “best one” and he was known by family and friends as a steak cooking master. He was also fond of chili from Tim Horton’s, McDonald’s French Fries, Dairy Queen Banana Splits, or any ice cream for that matter, frog legs (yes, you read that right), smelts, and always had a healthy supply of Juicy Fruit! George loved a good game of cards, and “Kings Corners” was his favourite. Depending on his opponent I am told there were different rules, which surely made each and every game just a bit more interesting! He also loved his animals, with countless family dogs and horses holding a special place in his heart.

In 2016, George suffered a second stroke, that further affected his left side and mobility. Although limited physically, George soon began attending the Day Away program in Hanover every Friday. The staff and fellow seniors soon became his second family. In fact, he tasked Lisa or Dianne to call him every Friday at 6 a.m. so that he would be ready for John, the driver of the disability van, at 8 a.m. He never wanted to be late. At Day Away, George was George, and his pranks and jokes followed him.

George was a man of many facets – he was funny, kind, resilient, and even a tad bit stubborn…. His legacy of stories and pranks will be cherished by all of those who knew him. He was not just a character but a cornerstone of his family, leaving behind a trove of memories that will continue to bring chuckles and a shake of the head for years to come.

Let us end with one of George’s sayings…

I feel my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission to join a senior’s club and start exercising. I decided to take aerobics classes. I bent, twisted, lifted my legs one at a time and perspired for an hour. But by the time I got my stockings, braces and shoes on – the class was over!

May you always end your day with a good laugh!

Unfortunately in recent weeks, George’s health declined further, and he passed away surrounded by his family at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in his 72nd year.

Loving husband of Pam. Cherished father of Lisa (Brad) Nicoll of Chesley and stepfather of Carri (Larry) Blue and Christina Klein. He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Braden, Brandon, Alexis, Lola, and Lillie. Dear brother of Dianne (Dan) Keip of Hanover and brother-in-law of Dan Gies of R.R. #1 Desboro. George will be fondly remembered by his niece, Joanne Kendrick, and nephews, George Gies, Steven, Bradley, and Michael Keip. He was predeceased by his sister Anna Joyce Gies, daughter-in-law, Alecia Dunbar, and his parents, George and Lola (Zisterer) Miskie.

Private services will take place with inurnment to follow above his parents in the Chesley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Home & Community Support Services (for the Day Away Program in Hanover) would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.