George “Buck” Prince, 81, of Gothenburg passed away on May 28, 2018 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney after falling from a ladder at his home. He was born on August 6, 1936 in Salem, Alabama to George S. and Blanche (Chadwick) Prince, Sr He graduated from Smith’s Station High School in 1954, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in September, 1954 and served as a pipefitter on the U.S.S. Mansfield and the U.S.S Walker out of Long Beach, California until July of 1958.
His ships served in the Pacific Islands, Japan and even Australia on a “goodwill tour”. He delighted in sharing his most memorable highlights of his ship surviving a typhoon far from land, and of crossing the equator with a challenging initiation aboard ship. In September, 1958 he enlisted in the Air Force stationed at March AFB in California, then Lowry AFB in Denver where he was a plumber and attained the NCO rank of Staff Sergeant.
He settled in Denver after his discharge from the Air Force at Lowry and began an apprenticeship as a Union Carpenter. He was very proud of the tremendously difficult courses and experiences he gained to become a very skilled carpenter working on the largest, tallest, most complicated buildings. He liked to drive around and point to all the buildings he had built, telling of the challenges they entailed.
He moved to Oregon, working as a union carpenter for about 5 years in the late 60’s. Buck and Nancy moved to Maui and Oahu, Hawaii for 5 years from 1989 to 1994 where he worked on some very large, complex resort and office buildings. He was proudest of building the 800+ room Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa in Wailea, Maui from its out-of-the-ground beginning to one of the two last workers, handling the punchlist inspections.
He met the love of his life Nancy Anderson Fisher in 1976 and they had 41 years of adventures together. Buck liked rafting down all the Colorado rivers, the wilder the better, camping along the way. Exploring Colorado’s mountains, back roads, relatively unknown creeks and ghost towns with Nancy while tent- camping on many weekends was a favorite activity.
He liked to take long weekends and meet Nancy wherever she was on business that week and travel new places. They belonged to the Ports of Call Travel Club in Denver, taking many trips to Mexico and Hawaii. He loved sunshine, beaches and the sea.
Buck’s bicycle was his first love, beginning when he was old enough to walk, he loved riding, and continued until a couple of years ago. Gothenburg folks got used to Buck popping up on his bike to stop and talk for a few minutes. His faithful daily workouts at the Wellness Center in Gothenburg and chatting with his fellow exercisers gave him great pleasure.
In his younger days he was a good basketball player and a good bowler. His favorite entertainment, though, was watching his Denver Broncos and Auburn University football Tigers play (and win. ) He seldom missed an Atlanta Braves game when Bobby Cox was the coach.
Preceding George in death were his parents and his first wife. He is survived by his only sister, Carolyn (Berry) Dudley of Opelika, Alabama; stepdaughter Loera (Jose) Pope de Rendon of Savannah, Georgia; stepsons Nick (Joni) Fisher of Denver and Scott (Elizabeth) Fisher of Florida and their children Jen, Joey, Chris, Wade, Russ and Kala Fisher; brothers-in-law David (Karen) Anderson of Austin, Elaine (Rich) Peters of Lincoln, Ellen (William) Kent, Jr. of Cambridge, and Walt Anderson of Cedaredge, Colorado; nieces and nephews, Angelyn (Ken) Lewis of Athens, Georgia; Donna (Jerry) Matson of Auburn, Alabama; Berry “Carl” (Shannon) Dudley, Jr. of Opelika; and Cliff (Laurel) Dudley of Opelika, as well as his many great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Thursday, May 31, 2018, 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
, with the family present from 4 – 6. Funeral services will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, June 1, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.
Memorials may be given to the Gothenburg YMCA, 910 20th Street, Gothenburg, NE 69138 or Donor’s Choice. To sign the online guest book, go to www. blasestrauser.com.
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