George Edward Fitzgerald, 88, passed away on May 30, 2022 from health issues related to congestive heart failure. Over seven years ago, his cardiologists had given him 6 months to a year to live and sent him back to the Philip hospital to spend the remainder of his days. However, George didn’t stick to the plan, and, after a number of weeks in the hospital, he insisted on going home – telling his family they could either take him home or he would walk home. During these seven bonus years, he enjoyed many hours playing his favorite card game, “Pitch,” with his friends at the card room, and having coffee at Ginnys with his family.

George was born on December 14, 1933 to William and Clara (Adley) Fitzgerald. He grew up seven miles north of Milesville and attended grade school in the area. When he was asked what one of his most memorable moments was from his childhood, he said it was when his father woke him up during the night and took him outside to see the Northern Lights.

George attended high school in Philip where he met the one and only love of his life, Ginny Lee VanOurkerk. When George was 18 and Ginny was 15, they eloped to Pierre to get married. Ten months later they became first time parents and seven years later, they were parents to Kerry, Vicki, Bill and Tammy. When Ginny was 24, she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and died shortly before her 29th birthday, leaving George to raise four kids with the help of his mother, Clara. It was a very painful time for George and he never remarried, saying he never met anyone who could take the place of Ginny. Although Ginny’s family was against George and Ginny’s elopement because of Ginny’s age, they grew to love George and came to the belief that the marriage was “meant to be” after Ginny died at such an early age.

George is remembered for his card playing skills and loved to play pitch and poker. He also had a reputation for being lucky. During one of his poker games, he was dealt a royal flush which has a 1 in 649,740 odds of happening which could possibly be the same odds of him living his 7 bonus years. George taught his children how to play pitch at an early age which became a bonding experience with them in later years and helped pass the hours during his hospitalizations.

Another one of the things George is remembered for is his love for his cars. One of his greatest acts of love for his children involved taking the back seat out of his car so there would be room for the unexpected purchase of a Shetland pony he and Ginny bought for their kids on their way home from Rochester where Ginny was being treated.

George’s grandchildren remember him as being a kind grandfather, easy to talk to, supportive no matter what, saying what he thought, and always wanting to make sure they were enjoying themselves. The most used word about him by friends and family is the word, “kind.”

Survivors include four children, Kerry Burns and her husband Don of Philip, Vicki Ravellette of Huron, William “Bill” Fitzgerald of Philip, and Tammy Rhodes and her husband Jason of Philip: 17 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, and a host of other relatives and friends.

George was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia “Ginny”; two brothers James “Jimmy” Fitzgerald and Tom Fitzgerald; a grandson Dexter Ravellette; and a great-grandson Zachary Scott Larson.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at the United Church in Philip.

Interment will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 883 Philip, SD 57567

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