Ernest Duane George, 83, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2015 at Mercy Villa in Springfield, Mo. He was born May 11, 1931 in Kewanee, Il., to Michael and Henrietta (Trent) George, and graduated from Wethersfield High School in 1949. Ernie joined CB&Q Railroad (now BNSF) in 1950. He married Shirley (Lamb) George, his high school sweetheart and love of his life on January 7, 1951 in Kewanee. In 1963 he was named Man of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Kewanee for dedication in establishing a school for handicapped children. That school, which is now a thriving non-profit organization known as Abilities Plus, serves Kewanee and three Illinois counties. He was always proud of the help families receive from this school.He and Shirley moved a number of times during his career. They lived in Galesburg, Ill., Omaha and Lincoln, Neb., and Maplewood, Minn. While living in Nebraska, he was very active with Junior Achievement groups and helped to raises funds for Public Service Television. Ernie retired in December, 1987 in St. Paul, Minn., after 39 years of service to the railroad. Following retirement, Ernie and Shirley moved to Springfield in 1988. His love of railroading never waned and he enjoyed building and operating an HO model train layout during retirement. Ernie also was a lifelong woodworker and an avid Nebraska football fan. He also greatly treasured his pet dogs. Ernie was a very devoted member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield.Ernie was preceded in death by his beloved son Gary; grandson Sean Gustafson; great-grandson Ethan Congdon; and Sister Gladys (Donald) Thurwanger.He is survived by his wife Shirley; daughters Debra Cain (Mark) of Republic, Mo., and Pamela Ungashick (Mark) of Kansas City, Mo.; sister Vera (Lawrence) Mohnen of Reeds Spring, Mo.; granddaughters Jennifer (Jason) Congdon and Stacia Blase; grandson Troy Blase; great-granddaughters Emma and Adalynn Congdon; and many nieces and nephews and other loving family members. Viewing and services will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Thursday, April 2, 2015. The family will receive at 9 a.m. with service to begin at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Services are under the care of Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Memorials in Ernie’s honor may be made to Abilities Plus, 1100 N. East Street, Kewanee, ILL 61443 (or online at http://www.abilitiesplus.omJindex.php/conlacls/support-giving) or to theAlzheimer’s Associationin Springfield Mo. at http://www.akorg/grcatcnnissourilin mv community donate,asp. The family thanks everyone at Mercy and Mercy Villa.