George C. Mielke

POLSON — George C. Mielke, 59, died of cancer on Friday Nov. 3, 2006, in Bellevue Hospital, New York City. He was born Feb. 17, 1947, at Memorial Hospital in Sidney, to Fred and Millie Mielke.

He received his early education in Sidney, and graduated from Sidney High School in 1965.

While he was in high school he was very active in music and drama and went on to major in Speech and Drama and English at Dickinson State College, and graduated there in 1968.

He was a member of "The Governor's Players of North Dakota." He married Tawnea Zadow and had a son, Martin Charles Mielke.

George finished his master's degrees in Theater Arts and Drama at the University of Missouri and pursued a doctorate in Technical Theater. He taught in Florissant Community College in St. Louis, Mo.

He loved music and also loved to write.

He was a news reporter for Knoxville News Sentinel, advertising manager for Hungry Horse News and went on to be editor of one of their newspapers.

George's dearest loves were acting and music. He played trombone, guitar, piano and harmonica, sang and loved to entertain. He could not pass a piano without playing. He was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and was at peace with his Lord.

His grandparents and his father Fred Mielke preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son Martin C. Mielke and a grandson Cameron, both of Washington; his mother, Millie Mielke of Polson; brother John Mielke of Florida and sister Margaret Darlington of Missoula, along with nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.