George Bernard Rooney, IV, 64, died in a motor vehicle collision in Genesee County, near Pembroke, New York, April 13, 2023. George was born April 4, 1959, in Dodge City, Kansas to George Bernard Rooney, III and Anita McCoy Rooney.
After graduating from high school in Minneola, Kansas in 1977, George attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1982. He married the love of his life, Janice Buhr on May 23, 1987.
George Rooney lived big. Beginning with his Colorado fourteeners – mountains rising to at least 14,000 feet – he scaled them all, some numerous times, with peaks in the Maroon Bells and the Sangre de Cristo Range being favorites. George's fondest mountaineering companions - the family dogs – often joined him. Climbing with his wife Jan, and numerous friends and family, there are many stories where George's encouragement and guidance led others to go beyond what they believed were their capabilities.
When George was not climbing mountains, he was cycling through them. As an avid and talented cyclist, one of his proudest achievements was holding the record for completing the Triple Bypass Ride 32 times. Initiating in Evergreen, Colorado, the ride covered 118 miles over three passes ending in Vail/Avon, Colorado. Among his cycling adventures in Europe, he traveled to France and rode the Tour de France amateur route on several occasions, including his favorite ride through the Alpe d'Heuz.
In his "big," George even took on the heavens. As an amateur astronomer and gifted astrophotographer, his photos were published in Astronomy Magazine. Trekking near and far to get the best views of all things celestial, George shared this passion as well. A favorite example is an epic family adventure in 2017 to Driggs, Utah to take in the year's total eclipse of the sun. All still remember sharing the awe of the total eclipse when the earth fell silent. Fabulous pictures captured the event which was marked with numerous telescopes, crazy solar sunglasses, and clicking shutters. The expedition then continued to another of George's favorite stomping grounds, Yellowstone National Park, where he treated all to the wonders of this astounding area for a most marvelous family vacation.
Although George gave up basketball to preserve his knees for his love of cycling, his heart was always with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, proudly noting their 1988 and 2022 NCAA Championships were won on his birthday.
Beyond sport and athleticism, George was an entrepreneur and loved the challenge of demanding engineering projects. He also worked to manage the family farm when his dad fell ill, and around all of that, helped numerous family and friends with their home improvement projects. He elevated each one with his engineering and craftsmanship expertise. Because he offered his time so often, sometimes there was a wait for a turn, but the wait always was worth the results.
Finally and maybe most importantly, George found great joy in tracing his family's genealogy. He did extensive research and traveled to cemeteries across the country to find family graves, leaving behind an impressive family record. Among all his personal and professional accomplishments, when asked what he wanted to be known for, he answered, "a historian."
Even with his big life, the best of George Rooney was his good heart. He helped, supported, and cared for so many. Whether he was cutting up the dance floor with his beloved Janice, hiking trails with his current best dog ever, navigating friends and family on Yellowstone's snowy back roads, or leading any other outdoor adventure, George was a fabulous guide in navigating life's journey, and we are better for having had him in our lives.
.
George is survived by his wife Janice and best dog ever, Bergen; mother Anita Rooney, sister Shannon Rooney, brother Kamas (Carlye) Rooney; nieces, Olivia and Elise Rooney. He is preceded in death by his father, George Bernard Rooney, III, and best dogs ever, Max and Logan. George was beloved by Janice's parents Norman and Martha Buhr, brother Dave (Carol) Buhr, nieces Sarah Simons, Amanda Smith, and Elise Buhr, and nephew Mike Buhr.
Memorials include Evergreen Animal Protective League and Team Evergreen Cycling.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, Dodge City, Kansas, with interment at Maple Grove Cemetery.
After graduating from high school in Minneola, Kansas in 1977, George attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1982. He married the love of his life, Janice Buhr on May 23, 1987.
George Rooney lived big. Beginning with his Colorado fourteeners – mountains rising to at least 14,000 feet – he scaled them all, some numerous times, with peaks in the Maroon Bells and the Sangre de Cristo Range being favorites. George's fondest mountaineering companions - the family dogs – often joined him. Climbing with his wife Jan, and numerous friends and family, there are many stories where George's encouragement and guidance led others to go beyond what they believed were their capabilities.
When George was not climbing mountains, he was cycling through them. As an avid and talented cyclist, one of his proudest achievements was holding the record for completing the Triple Bypass Ride 32 times. Initiating in Evergreen, Colorado, the ride covered 118 miles over three passes ending in Vail/Avon, Colorado. Among his cycling adventures in Europe, he traveled to France and rode the Tour de France amateur route on several occasions, including his favorite ride through the Alpe d'Heuz.
In his "big," George even took on the heavens. As an amateur astronomer and gifted astrophotographer, his photos were published in Astronomy Magazine. Trekking near and far to get the best views of all things celestial, George shared this passion as well. A favorite example is an epic family adventure in 2017 to Driggs, Utah to take in the year's total eclipse of the sun. All still remember sharing the awe of the total eclipse when the earth fell silent. Fabulous pictures captured the event which was marked with numerous telescopes, crazy solar sunglasses, and clicking shutters. The expedition then continued to another of George's favorite stomping grounds, Yellowstone National Park, where he treated all to the wonders of this astounding area for a most marvelous family vacation.
Although George gave up basketball to preserve his knees for his love of cycling, his heart was always with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, proudly noting their 1988 and 2022 NCAA Championships were won on his birthday.
Beyond sport and athleticism, George was an entrepreneur and loved the challenge of demanding engineering projects. He also worked to manage the family farm when his dad fell ill, and around all of that, helped numerous family and friends with their home improvement projects. He elevated each one with his engineering and craftsmanship expertise. Because he offered his time so often, sometimes there was a wait for a turn, but the wait always was worth the results.
Finally and maybe most importantly, George found great joy in tracing his family's genealogy. He did extensive research and traveled to cemeteries across the country to find family graves, leaving behind an impressive family record. Among all his personal and professional accomplishments, when asked what he wanted to be known for, he answered, "a historian."
Even with his big life, the best of George Rooney was his good heart. He helped, supported, and cared for so many. Whether he was cutting up the dance floor with his beloved Janice, hiking trails with his current best dog ever, navigating friends and family on Yellowstone's snowy back roads, or leading any other outdoor adventure, George was a fabulous guide in navigating life's journey, and we are better for having had him in our lives.
.
George is survived by his wife Janice and best dog ever, Bergen; mother Anita Rooney, sister Shannon Rooney, brother Kamas (Carlye) Rooney; nieces, Olivia and Elise Rooney. He is preceded in death by his father, George Bernard Rooney, III, and best dogs ever, Max and Logan. George was beloved by Janice's parents Norman and Martha Buhr, brother Dave (Carol) Buhr, nieces Sarah Simons, Amanda Smith, and Elise Buhr, and nephew Mike Buhr.
Memorials include Evergreen Animal Protective League and Team Evergreen Cycling.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, Dodge City, Kansas, with interment at Maple Grove Cemetery.
George Bernard Rooney, IV, 64, died in a motor vehicle collision in Genesee County, near Pembroke, New York, April 13, 2023. George was born April 4, 1959, in Dodge City, Kansas to George Bernard Rooney, III and Anita McCoy Rooney.
After graduating from high school in Minneola, Kansas in 1977, George attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1982. He married the love of his life, Janice Buhr on May 23, 1987.
George Rooney lived big. Beginning with his Colorado fourteeners – mountains rising to at least 14,000 feet – he scaled them all, some numerous times, with peaks in the Maroon Bells and the Sangre de Cristo Range being favorites. George's fondest mountaineering companions - the family dogs – often joined him. Climbing with his wife Jan, and numerous friends and family, there are many stories where George's encouragement and guidance led others to go beyond what they believed were their capabilities.
When George was not climbing mountains, he was cycling through them. As an avid and talented cyclist, one of his proudest achievements was holding the record for completing the Triple Bypass Ride 32 times. Initiating in Evergreen, Colorado, the ride covered 118 miles over three passes ending in Vail/Avon, Colorado. Among his cycling adventures in Europe, he traveled to France and rode the Tour de France amateur route on several occasions, including his favorite ride through the Alpe d'Heuz.
In his "big," George even took on the heavens. As an amateur astronomer and gifted astrophotographer, his photos were published in Astronomy Magazine. Trekking near and far to get the best views of all things celestial, George shared this passion as well. A favorite example is an epic family adventure in 2017 to Driggs, Utah to take in the year's total eclipse of the sun. All still remember sharing the awe of the total eclipse when the earth fell silent. Fabulous pictures captured the event which was marked with numerous telescopes, crazy solar sunglasses, and clicking shutters. The expedition then continued to another of George's favorite stomping grounds, Yellowstone National Park, where he treated all to the wonders of this astounding area for a most marvelous family vacation.
Although George gave up basketball to preserve his knees for his love of cycling, his heart was always with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, proudly noting their 1988 and 2022 NCAA Championships were won on his birthday.
Beyond sport and athleticism, George was an entrepreneur and loved the challenge of demanding engineering projects. He also worked to manage the family farm when his dad fell ill, and around all of that, helped numerous family and friends with their home improvement projects. He elevated each one with his engineering and craftsmanship expertise. Because he offered his time so often, sometimes there was a wait for a turn, but the wait always was worth the results.
Finally and maybe most importantly, George found great joy in tracing his family's genealogy. He did extensive research and traveled to cemeteries across the country to find family graves, leaving behind an impressive family record. Among all his personal and professional accomplishments, when asked what he wanted to be known for, he answered, "a historian."
Even with his big life, the best of George Rooney was his good heart. He helped, supported, and cared for so many. Whether he was cutting up the dance floor with his beloved Janice, hiking trails with his current best dog ever, navigating friends and family on Yellowstone's snowy back roads, or leading any other outdoor adventure, George was a fabulous guide in navigating life's journey, and we are better for having had him in our lives.
.
George is survived by his wife Janice and best dog ever, Bergen; mother Anita Rooney, sister Shannon Rooney, brother Kamas (Carlye) Rooney; nieces, Olivia and Elise Rooney. He is preceded in death by his father, George Bernard Rooney, III, and best dogs ever, Max and Logan. George was beloved by Janice's parents Norman and Martha Buhr, brother Dave (Carol) Buhr, nieces Sarah Simons, Amanda Smith, and Elise Buhr, and nephew Mike Buhr.
Memorials include Evergreen Animal Protective League and Team Evergreen Cycling.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, Dodge City, Kansas, with interment at Maple Grove Cemetery.
After graduating from high school in Minneola, Kansas in 1977, George attended the Colorado School of Mines, earning a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1982. He married the love of his life, Janice Buhr on May 23, 1987.
George Rooney lived big. Beginning with his Colorado fourteeners – mountains rising to at least 14,000 feet – he scaled them all, some numerous times, with peaks in the Maroon Bells and the Sangre de Cristo Range being favorites. George's fondest mountaineering companions - the family dogs – often joined him. Climbing with his wife Jan, and numerous friends and family, there are many stories where George's encouragement and guidance led others to go beyond what they believed were their capabilities.
When George was not climbing mountains, he was cycling through them. As an avid and talented cyclist, one of his proudest achievements was holding the record for completing the Triple Bypass Ride 32 times. Initiating in Evergreen, Colorado, the ride covered 118 miles over three passes ending in Vail/Avon, Colorado. Among his cycling adventures in Europe, he traveled to France and rode the Tour de France amateur route on several occasions, including his favorite ride through the Alpe d'Heuz.
In his "big," George even took on the heavens. As an amateur astronomer and gifted astrophotographer, his photos were published in Astronomy Magazine. Trekking near and far to get the best views of all things celestial, George shared this passion as well. A favorite example is an epic family adventure in 2017 to Driggs, Utah to take in the year's total eclipse of the sun. All still remember sharing the awe of the total eclipse when the earth fell silent. Fabulous pictures captured the event which was marked with numerous telescopes, crazy solar sunglasses, and clicking shutters. The expedition then continued to another of George's favorite stomping grounds, Yellowstone National Park, where he treated all to the wonders of this astounding area for a most marvelous family vacation.
Although George gave up basketball to preserve his knees for his love of cycling, his heart was always with the University of Kansas Jayhawks, proudly noting their 1988 and 2022 NCAA Championships were won on his birthday.
Beyond sport and athleticism, George was an entrepreneur and loved the challenge of demanding engineering projects. He also worked to manage the family farm when his dad fell ill, and around all of that, helped numerous family and friends with their home improvement projects. He elevated each one with his engineering and craftsmanship expertise. Because he offered his time so often, sometimes there was a wait for a turn, but the wait always was worth the results.
Finally and maybe most importantly, George found great joy in tracing his family's genealogy. He did extensive research and traveled to cemeteries across the country to find family graves, leaving behind an impressive family record. Among all his personal and professional accomplishments, when asked what he wanted to be known for, he answered, "a historian."
Even with his big life, the best of George Rooney was his good heart. He helped, supported, and cared for so many. Whether he was cutting up the dance floor with his beloved Janice, hiking trails with his current best dog ever, navigating friends and family on Yellowstone's snowy back roads, or leading any other outdoor adventure, George was a fabulous guide in navigating life's journey, and we are better for having had him in our lives.
.
George is survived by his wife Janice and best dog ever, Bergen; mother Anita Rooney, sister Shannon Rooney, brother Kamas (Carlye) Rooney; nieces, Olivia and Elise Rooney. He is preceded in death by his father, George Bernard Rooney, III, and best dogs ever, Max and Logan. George was beloved by Janice's parents Norman and Martha Buhr, brother Dave (Carol) Buhr, nieces Sarah Simons, Amanda Smith, and Elise Buhr, and nephew Mike Buhr.
Memorials include Evergreen Animal Protective League and Team Evergreen Cycling.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, Dodge City, Kansas, with interment at Maple Grove Cemetery.
