Funeral services for George Eugene McAllister were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Visitation was after 1 p.m. Thursday, with family present from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pastor Charles Compton of the Perry Bible Church in Perry provided words of comfort. Honorary bearers were Ron Mulder, Richard Sieck, Tony Kinney, Steve Ewing, Brad Booth, Shawn Jones and Brandon Carpenter.
Recorded music selected was “Humble and Kind,” “Good People” and “Amazing Grace.”
Following the service was a time of refreshments and fellowship in the lounge of the Hastings Funeral Home.
George Eugene McAllister, son of Irvin Eugene McAllister Sr. and Norma Jean Seghi McAllister, was born June 16, 1965, in Perry, Iowa, and died Dec. 23, 2016, at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, at the age of 51.
George was raised in Woodward, Granger, Madrid and Perry and graduated from Perry High School in 1983.
George was a talented and creative man. He enjoyed playing softball and was a good bowler. George was chosen to appear on “Let’s Go Bowling,” a popular television show, and won a trophy.
George and Gina Short became parents of a daughter, Chelsey. Later his marriage to Tina McLaughlin was blessed with a son, Joseph.
He was united in marriage with Debbie Mae Hoffman Tasler in Jefferson Feb. 14, 2000. George became step-father to Amy Tasler, Debbie’s daughter.
They lived in Perry until April 2000, when they moved to an acreage south of Grand Junction. In addition to their jobs, they bred and raised Siberian huskies.
George had a great love of cooking, at which he excelled. Over the years, he cooked at the Hindquarter in Perry and at a large truck stop near Atlantic. Nothing pleased him more than preparing a great meal for family and friends.
George worked for Tyson Fresh Meats in Perry and was a resident treatment worker at the Woodward Resource Center for more than 12 years. He enjoyed his union memberships at AFSME Local 2990 and the union at Tyson Fresh Meats.
George was an enthusiastic collector, and his favorites were his elephants.
A few years ago, George and Debbie purchased the historic Watts family property in Grand Junction. They put their hearts and souls into that restoration.
Along with the home came a very special and very old pool table that they purchased. George restored the table to mint condition and enjoyed playing pool on it.
George was known to be a jokester. He loved the outdoors and could master any sport or table game. Playing cribbage and darts were big favorites. A favorite pastime he enjoyed was spending time with his nephew, Shawn Jones, for many games of foosball.
George was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gene; brother-in-law, Don Jones; and numerous aunts and uncles.
George is survived by his wife, Debbie of Grand Junction; son, Joe McAllister of Oak Harbor, Wash.; daughters, Chelsey Telleen of Perry and Amy Tasler of Perry; sisters, Mary (Bob) Laborde of Perry, Sherry Jones of Rippey, Terry (Wade) Schulte of Perry and Sami (Jason) Keuck of Ankeny; brother, Richard (Michelle) McAllister of Jamaica; brothers-in-law, Richard Sieck and Lyle Dean Hoffman, both of Grand Junction; sisters-in-law, Ruth Ann Cosner of Grand Junction and and Jeanette (Jerry) Hornsby of Perry; aunt, Patricia (Carroll) Brown of Colfax; many nieces; nephews; and cousins.
