Dr. George Robert Klacan passed unexpectedly at home on January 24, 2024 at the age of 90.
George was born November 26, 1933 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to parents George and Alma. He met his future wife, Mary Lou Kirchner, in high school and took her to senior prom; they married in 1955. He completed his undergraduate degree in Soils at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before being drafted into the US Navy. Following his military service in Hawaii, a mentor encouraged George to return to school and seek his doctoral degree. After completing his Ph.D. in Soils in 1962, he began a storied career at Green Giant in LeSueur, Minnesota. He retired from Green Giant in 1999 after many contributions to the science of food production, specializing in pest management and plant pathology.
George and Mary Lou raised four children, Beth (Corey), Phil (Paula), Annie (Greg), and Carolyn (Owen) with love and good humor. A lifelong student of the world, George sought out many adventures including running three marathons, research trips to China and caring for an estate in South Africa. His eight grandchildren cherished spending summers at the cabin on Bluewater Lake, and his great-grandson loved reading stories on his lap.
George will be remembered fondly by family, friends and anyone fortunate enough to be served one of his legendary Manhattans. He was an avid lifelong supporter of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and he sponsored the summer internships of students through a scholarship in his name. Memorials may be made to the George R. and Mary Lou Klacan Scholarship Fund at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
A Celebration of Life was on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 2:00PM at Hope Lutheran Church (3337 Kingsbarn Avenue, River Falls, WI), with visitation beginning at 1:00PM.