Celebrating Centenarians-George Koehm

This is one story in an occasional series profiling some of LW’s most long-lived residents, those who have reached the enviable age of 100 years or more. The series is running in connection with the Golden Age Foundation centenarian event held April 20. In most cases, a family member or friend has written the stories.

by Randy Koehm

special to the LW Weekly

George Koehm was born on the family farm in Greenfield, Illinois, on Nov. 6, 1922. It was not until he was in high school that the farm was electrified, and they purchased their first tractor (no more plowing with a team of horses). When George left the farm, he went to work as a surveyor for the railroad in Douglas, Arizona, as well as Leadville, Colorado. When the war broke out, he went to enlist, only to be told he had tuberculosis and was classified 4-F. After a short respite, he went to San Francisco and enlisted in the Merchant Marines to do his part for the war. He served both on a tanker and a cargo ship in the Pacific theater. After the war, he shipped out on the Great Lakes for a short time.

He then met the love of his life, Selma Marcy, on a blind date.

They married and worked a small farm near Greenfield and started a family.

First was Sally and a couple of years later, George (Randy).

They took a leap of faith and moved to California. Shortly after moving, he was hired on with the new Delco-Remy battery plant in Anaheim, where he spent his career and retired as the quality control lab manager. After retirement, he and Selma traveled to Europe, Asia and Australia.

They enjoyed boating at “the river” over the years and moved to Bullhead City where they enjoyed going out on Lake Mojave. In 1999 life brought them to Leisure World.

While in Leisure World, George and Selma enjoyed many activities especially the dances. Selma passed away in 2011 at the age of 92. They were married for 62 years.

In addition to their two children they have three grandsons and three great grandsons.