George Francis Griffin was born on December 11, 1921 in Amery, Wisconsin the son of Norval H. and Mabel (Reed) Griffin, the fourth of 10 children. The family later moved to Minneapolis, where George grew up and graduated from Roosevelt High School.
George enlisted in the United States Navy in April of 1942 where he received training and received his third class electrician rating. George was united in marriage to Ann Marie Favreau, of Minneapolis, MN in New York City on April 17, 1943. Because it was wartime, Ann returned to Minneapolis while George was serving the Atlantic Fleet for convoy duty and the African invasion on the USS New York. He was later transferred to the heavy cruiser, USS Canberra, serving in the Pacific and being a part of the invasion of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. The Canberra was torpedoed off the coast of Formosa in October of 1944. George was Baptized Catholic aboard the USS Canberra in 1944. In 1945 he was transferred to the US Naval Telephone School in Virginia and was honorably discharged in October that year.

In 1946, the couple returned to Amery, where they made their home. Two children were born, Cynthia and Michael. It was also at this time that George was confirmed at St Joseph's Catholic Church. He served in may capacities at the church, including being an usher for 45 years.
George joined the Amery Telephone Company and he started working as a new line installer working his way to be an installer and repairman who also maintained the switchboards. In 1950 he became the plant superintendent, and in 1955 was elected President of the Board of Directors. He served as President and General Manager for the next 28 years.
George was very active in the Amery Community. He served six terms as mayor, beginning in 1960, was President of Amery Community Club, Amery Industrial Development Corp., Amery Airport Inc., Amery Golf Club and Amery Aero Aircraft Sales, and was the first Civil Defense Director, and spent five years on the Amery Fire Department. He also served a term on the Polk County Board of Supervisors. In the State of Wisconsin he was President of Wisconsin League of Municipalities, Wisconsin State Telephone Association, and Wisconsin Locally Owned Telephone Association. George also served nationally on the United States Independent Telephone Pioneer Association Board in Washington, DC.
In 1982 George retired from the Amery Telephone Company. He and Ann made Mesa, Arizona their winter home, but continued living in Amery the rest of the year. While in Mesa he was active at All Saint's Catholic Church.
George was active in several fraternal organizations: Knights of Columbus, Lion's Club, Elks, Amery Community Club, and the Minneapolis Athletic Club. He was also a member of the American Legion and VFW.
George enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and flying. He was passionate about flying, and was instrumental in founding the Amery Airport in 1969.

Two of his most memorable moments came when in 1974, Griffin Street in Amery was named in his honor, and in 1984 he was inducted into the Wisconsin State Telephone Hall of Fame.
During his last years, George enjoyed spending time with his family, and when able, doing a little fishing. George has been a resident of Willow Ridge Healthcare in Amery for the past year, where he passed away on Monday, March 14, 2016 at the age of 94.
George was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ann; brothers: Howard, Glenn and Richard; sisters: June Aagaard, Jean Newstrom, Jane Booth, Geraldine Lines and Carol Lundeen. Surviving family members include is children: Cynthia(Michael Jensen and Michael (Kathryn) Griffin; brother Donald Griffin; grandchildren: Jeff (Mona) Jensen, Scott (Sara) Jensen, Karen (Beau) Gorres, Michelle (Nathan) Webb, Todd Griffin and Stacey Roberts-Griffin. He also leaves step granddaughters: Michelle (Frank) Schussler and Amy Hamilton, 22 great grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amery. Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. Friday and continue until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be at the Amery Cemetery.