Obituary of George John Wur

George WUR
1928 -2019

Celebration of a life well lived

Please join us in celebrating the life of George Wur on Friday, March 1, 2019, 2:00 – 4:00pm at the Edwards Family Centre, 333 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. George was a charismatic, vibrant person who approached life with an entrepreneurial spirit and a twinkle in his eye. He was born in 1928 in Selkirk, Manitoba to Annie and Anthony Wur and had three brothers, Anthony, Stan and Bob. George lived in Selkirk until his mid 20’s. Growing up he helped in the family-owned “Wur’s Red and White” grocery store working his way from delivery boy to butcher. During that time he found his calling – a fascination for business and love of people. He would greet you with a handshake, “Hi, how are you,” and follow that up with a complimentary word. His quick wit and outgoing personality earned him the nickname “Georgie”. In the early 1950’s George met and married the love of his life for 64 years, Sylvia. Together they had three children. George was a devoted husband and father taking part in every aspect of his children’s lives – home, school, and community activities. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Selkirk and was an elected member of the Lord Selkirk School Division. In later life, he sharing endless bouts of laughter and moments of happiness with his four grandchildren. George had a passion for animals, especially dogs. His beloved border collie, Oliver, was by his side until he moved into Extendicare and even then, they continued to visit regularly. George showed his loved for people and animals by supporting agencies such as Autism Saskatoon, the Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Saskatoon SPCA. George’s gift for connecting with others made him a natural in sales and business management. Reading, following business trends, and strategic planning contributed to his success. George left Selkirk in the late 1950’s with his wife and children. He spent two years selling building supplies in Northern Saskatchewan and another two years travelling from Lakehead to the BC border selling windows and doors. Wanting to put down roots, he accepted a Branch Manager position at Modern Building Cleaning in Saskatoon where he worked for 14 years. In 1973, at the age of 45, he and his wife, Sylvia, started Merit Building Cleaning Services. The company began with two part-time employees and a few office buildings to clean. Hard work, determination and seventeen years later, George had a staff of 145 and was the largest janitorial contractor in Saskatoon cleaning in excess of 1.5 million square feet of space every night. After retirement George could not stay idle and was often seen helping with his son’s and grandson’s businesses or assisting would-be entrepreneurs jumpstart their own ventures. He took pleasure in helping people. George had a passion for the finer things in life and will be fondly remembered for his love of cigars, Cadillacs and Crown Royal. Gardening and hosting backyard pool parties were also a big part of his life. His adventurous streak and desire to learn and experience different cultures took he and Sylvia to 28 different countries where they met, and kept in contact with many people. Those who travelled with George describe him as the “food and drink connoisseur.” He has touched the lives of many through his personal, social and business activities. Although George has passed from our lives, he has left us with many happy, cherished memories and the stories will continue. George was predeceased by his loving wife, Sylvia; his parents, Annie and Anthony; his brothers, Anthony and Stan; many other Wur family members; and his pets Tippy, Frisky and Tiger.   George is survived by his brother, Bob (Gloria) of Manitoba; his children: Karen (Ron) of Nova Scotia, Jack (Tanya) of Saskatoon, Sheri (Don) of Saskatoon; his grandchildren: Jason (Deserae), Kevin, Austin (Emily) and Kristen; many nieces and nephews; and his dog, Oliver. George’s family would like to thank the staff at Extendicare as well as the medical staff of RUH Hospital for the care, thoughtfulness and kindness bestowed upon George. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Saskatoon SPCA.

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