George Walter Thamert

George Walter Thamert, 87, of Elgin, died April 24 at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande with his family at his side. George requested that there will be no public services.

George was born April 13, 1924, in Fargo, N.D., to George and Grace (Benn) Thamert. His father died when he was 5 years old. He was raised and educated in Fargo, and at the age of 16, he moved to Caldwell, Idaho. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build Lake Lowell.

George joined the Army and served honorably in World War II stationed in England as a medical corpsman. Returning to Caldwell after his military service, he met and married Edith Carpenter on Dec. 23, 1946. They became the parents of four children.

Over the next 15 years, George and Edith experienced many adventures with their young family as they traveled the West. George worked in a cannery and as a carpenter and firefighter, adapting to the job market as needed. The family moved to Elgin in 1960, where George was employed with Boise Cascade for the next 25 years.

He loved the outdoors, hunting, camping, fishing, gathering firewood, hunting mushrooms and picking huckleberries. A music lover, George was known to be a gifted square dance caller in his day. George had a lifetime affinity for dogs and was blessed with many fine canine companions over the years. He was also an avid fan of chocolate and could be caught washing down a generous piece of chocolate cake with a tall glass of chocolate milk.

He was a member of the VFW in Union, the Grande Ronde Hospital Auxiliary, the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department and the Star Promenaders. George was a certified EMT.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Edith; his children and their spouses, Dale and Frankie Thamert of Elgin, Cheryl and Art Smith of Seattle, Ted and LouAnn Thamert of Elgin, Kerry and Danita Thamert of Elgin and George Slane of Caldwell, Idaho; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Grace; stepfather, Otto Hagberg; and brother, Jim Thamert.

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