George J. Pfeifer

George J. Pfeifer

July 27, 1925 – February 3, 2021

George J. Pfeifer, 95, was born in Victoria, Kansas.  He died peacefully at home on February 3, 2021.

George was preceded in death by parents, Frank and Mary Pfeifer of Hays, Kansas; wife, Virginia of Hays KS; brothers: Al, Bob, Francis, Eugene; sisters, Velma and Bernice; in-laws: Mary Ann Dreiling, Velma Harned, Dick and Wilma Augustine, Harold and Vera Augustine, Wayne Augustine, Michael Augustine, Betty and Charles Flanery, Valeria and Oren Adler.

George is survived by brothers-in law and sisters-in-law: Marvin Pfeifer (Carol), Lillian Pfeifer, Leroy Dreiling, Dick Rhea, Mary Augustine, Ann Augustine, Ken Augustine (Barb).  Children and spouses: Rod Pfeifer (Eugenia), Deb Baber (Frank Winters), Bruce Pfeifer (Colleen): grandchildren Lisa Pfeifer Hicks (Jason), Amy Robbins (Donovan), Andrea Thinnes (Joshua), Brian Pfeifer (Sarah), Jennifer Pecha (Joseph), Carolyn Bevins (Caleb), Michael Pfeifer (Kati Sweeney), Charles Baber (Brittany), Mark Pfeifer (Caitlyn); great-grandchildren: Sage and Laton Pfeifer Hicks, Joseph (Brooke), Matthew, Zachary and Connor Robbins, Emily, Alex, Mady Thinnes, Jackson, Jonathan, and Breanna Pfeifer, Jace and Lauren Pecha, Cecilia and Juliette Bevins,

For the majority of his life, Boys Town was home to George in one way or another.  George arrived at Boys Town as a young teen after his father passed.  He was a student and stand out athlete.  He went on to become the Mayor of Boys Town in 1944.

Upon graduating from Boys Town, George served in the Navy during WW II and then attended college at Fort Hays State College in Hays, KS.  In 1951, he once again called Boys Town home as he arrived back in Omaha to begin his teaching and coaching career.  George had a way with his students both in the classroom and on the field; and they respected where he was coming from, as he had been in their shoes. 

He had a long career at Boys Town, which eventually included moving on as the Athletic Director and then Junior High School Principal in 1973.  Even though George retired, Boys Town continued to be a very important part of his life as he stayed involved as an active member of the Boys Town National Alumni Association and Scholarship Committee, and a mentor for the basketball team.  Highlighted as a successful athlete and basketball/track coach at Boys Town, he was inducted into the Boys Town Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and Nebraska High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006.

His love of people, telling stories, and wanting the best for those he loved was evident with his own family and his “family” at Boys Town.  In an interview in 2010, Pfeifer explained his need to stay connected at Boys Town.  “I knew I wanted to be there to help those type of kids.  You know, they come here with a hole in their heart.  Nobody cares about them, nobody encourages them – they just think there’s no way they can make it.  We set up goals and objectives.  We praise them when they succeed.  When a kid comes up to you and says, ‘God, I wish you were my dad,’ well those kind of grab you.  Then you know you made a difference.”  This is George’s legacy; he made a difference in so many lives.  May each of you keep George alive in your hearts.

MEMORIAL SERVICE with CDC guidelines observed: Saturday, April 17th at 10:00am with VISITATION with family at 9:00am at Boys Town Dowd Chapel, 13943 Dowd Drive.  Private Inurnment: Calvary Mausoleum.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for the Boys Town Alumni Scholarship Fund, Box 762, Boys Town, NE 68010

To view a live broadcast of the Service and Graveside Military Honors, please go to www.heafeyheafey.comand click the “View Live Cast” button on our home page.

 

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