George Gerald Roche died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in his home after a lengthy illness. He was born Dec. 27, 1922, to David and Carrie (Mekash) Roche of Hibbing.
He attended Assumption School through eighth grade, graduated from Hibbing High School in 1940 and enrolled in Hibbing Junior College thereafter. He enlisted in the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and received his wings in March 1944. He married Helen Nasi on June 27, 1944, shortly before leaving to fight in the Pacific Theater in World War II. While overseas, he flew dive bombers off of Saipan until the carrier USS Lexington picked them up en route to Japan.
After the war, George returned to Hibbing to work for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. He soon transferred to the Zinsmaster Baking Co., where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in 1982. After retiring, he worked part-time at Northwoods Ford for another 15 years.
He was an avid fisherman and especially loved ice fishing for crappies in Minnesota. He spent many summers in Alaska working as a commercial fisherman on a small set-net site outside of Kenai. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by all.
George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; son, David (Carol) Roche; daughters: Carol Hooten and Patricia (Jack) Alexander; granddaughter, Erika Roche; grandsons: Derek Roche, Jason Alexander, Patrick Aslakson, Tim Aslakson, Joe Buchwitz, and Jim Buchwitz; sister, Dorothy Roche; brothers: Henry (Ella) Roche, and Clarence (Marcella) Roche; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tom; grandson, Jim Aslakson; sister, Marie (Don) Ryan; and brothers: Francis, David and Richard Roche and Arnold Dolezel.
He attended Assumption School through eighth grade, graduated from Hibbing High School in 1940 and enrolled in Hibbing Junior College thereafter. He enlisted in the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and received his wings in March 1944. He married Helen Nasi on June 27, 1944, shortly before leaving to fight in the Pacific Theater in World War II. While overseas, he flew dive bombers off of Saipan until the carrier USS Lexington picked them up en route to Japan.
After the war, George returned to Hibbing to work for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. He soon transferred to the Zinsmaster Baking Co., where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in 1982. After retiring, he worked part-time at Northwoods Ford for another 15 years.
He was an avid fisherman and especially loved ice fishing for crappies in Minnesota. He spent many summers in Alaska working as a commercial fisherman on a small set-net site outside of Kenai. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by all.
George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; son, David (Carol) Roche; daughters: Carol Hooten and Patricia (Jack) Alexander; granddaughter, Erika Roche; grandsons: Derek Roche, Jason Alexander, Patrick Aslakson, Tim Aslakson, Joe Buchwitz, and Jim Buchwitz; sister, Dorothy Roche; brothers: Henry (Ella) Roche, and Clarence (Marcella) Roche; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tom; grandson, Jim Aslakson; sister, Marie (Don) Ryan; and brothers: Francis, David and Richard Roche and Arnold Dolezel.
George Gerald Roche died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in his home after a lengthy illness. He was born Dec. 27, 1922, to David and Carrie (Mekash) Roche of Hibbing.
He attended Assumption School through eighth grade, graduated from Hibbing High School in 1940 and enrolled in Hibbing Junior College thereafter. He enlisted in the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and received his wings in March 1944. He married Helen Nasi on June 27, 1944, shortly before leaving to fight in the Pacific Theater in World War II. While overseas, he flew dive bombers off of Saipan until the carrier USS Lexington picked them up en route to Japan.
After the war, George returned to Hibbing to work for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. He soon transferred to the Zinsmaster Baking Co., where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in 1982. After retiring, he worked part-time at Northwoods Ford for another 15 years.
He was an avid fisherman and especially loved ice fishing for crappies in Minnesota. He spent many summers in Alaska working as a commercial fisherman on a small set-net site outside of Kenai. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by all.
George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; son, David (Carol) Roche; daughters: Carol Hooten and Patricia (Jack) Alexander; granddaughter, Erika Roche; grandsons: Derek Roche, Jason Alexander, Patrick Aslakson, Tim Aslakson, Joe Buchwitz, and Jim Buchwitz; sister, Dorothy Roche; brothers: Henry (Ella) Roche, and Clarence (Marcella) Roche; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tom; grandson, Jim Aslakson; sister, Marie (Don) Ryan; and brothers: Francis, David and Richard Roche and Arnold Dolezel.
He attended Assumption School through eighth grade, graduated from Hibbing High School in 1940 and enrolled in Hibbing Junior College thereafter. He enlisted in the Navy Air Corps in 1942 and received his wings in March 1944. He married Helen Nasi on June 27, 1944, shortly before leaving to fight in the Pacific Theater in World War II. While overseas, he flew dive bombers off of Saipan until the carrier USS Lexington picked them up en route to Japan.
After the war, George returned to Hibbing to work for the Oliver Iron Mining Co. He soon transferred to the Zinsmaster Baking Co., where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in 1982. After retiring, he worked part-time at Northwoods Ford for another 15 years.
He was an avid fisherman and especially loved ice fishing for crappies in Minnesota. He spent many summers in Alaska working as a commercial fisherman on a small set-net site outside of Kenai. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by all.
George is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; son, David (Carol) Roche; daughters: Carol Hooten and Patricia (Jack) Alexander; granddaughter, Erika Roche; grandsons: Derek Roche, Jason Alexander, Patrick Aslakson, Tim Aslakson, Joe Buchwitz, and Jim Buchwitz; sister, Dorothy Roche; brothers: Henry (Ella) Roche, and Clarence (Marcella) Roche; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tom; grandson, Jim Aslakson; sister, Marie (Don) Ryan; and brothers: Francis, David and Richard Roche and Arnold Dolezel.
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