George Dezso
George Dezso
LAKELAND, FL. – On October 29, 2019, George Dezso passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Lakeland, Florida with his wife and daughter by his side.
Born May 21, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan to George and Elizabeth Dezso.
His lifelong interest in bodybuilding began as a teenager, placing 2nd in his weight class. He passed this passion on to his sons and their friends, opening “George’s Body Shop” to all who were interested. An avid skier and golfer, he spent many weekends on the slopes of Cliffs Ridge and the Colorado Rockies with family and friends and the Marquette Golf Club “Heritage” course, proudly achieving three Holes In One over the course of 50 years of playing the game.
His passion for motorcyles began as a young adult and continued until the last few years when dementia prevented him from riding. His passion for riding was shared with his wife, traveling all over the country on their bike and meeting and making many good friends.
His working career began at Great Lakes Steel on Zug Island in Detroit, Michigan where he began as a laborer and was a blast furnace operator when he left in 1968 to move his family to Marquette where he and his wife, Shirley, owned and operated the Royal Motel for 19 years. He retired from Marquette General Hospital in 1996 after 20 years in the maintenance department, using his extensive knowledge of all things mechanical to help keep the building’sheating plant in good working order. After retiring, he and his wife moved to Arizona where he could ride motorcyles all year long.
He met his wife of 64 years, Shirley Summers, at Southwestern High School in Detroit. Together they raised four children: George Dezso, Sandra (Mark) Lessard, Gary (Kim) Dezso and Gregory (Barbara) Dezso.
In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by grandchildren, Renee Misuraca and Nicole Kaminski; Ashley, Andrew and Baili Dezso; Jonathan Dezso; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Aaron Dezso, brothers-in-law; Carl Fernelius, Henry Summers and John Summers, sisters-in-law; Gail Summers and Ann Summers, and nephew John Summers.
A family celebration of his life will be held this summer in Marquette.