Koren, George J. Died peacefully on November 4, 2012 after 94 years of a wonderful and dynamic life. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean (nee Barrett) and his beautiful daughter, Laura Koren Smith. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Fred) Sloan of Cottage Grove, WI and his son, Robert (Carol) Koren of Spring Grove, IL; his grandchildren, Maggie, Kellie, and Bobby Koren, and Barrett Smith; his step-grandchildren, Heidi (Drew) Englebert and Robert (Pamie) Sloan and their children, Nicholas and Trinity Sloan and Avery and Anna Englebert; his sister, Jean (the late Jim) Sigrist and his brother, Fred (Alice) Koren and many nieces and nephews. George was a resident of Antioch, IL and a long time former resident of Sauganash in Chicago. A graduate of Senn Technical High School and the Armour and Lewis Institute of Technology, George joined Beardsley and Piper Company in 1937 as a college co-op student. At B&P during WWII, he served as a consultant to the 5th Army Engineering Planning Group for the design of molding equipment to produce cast armor, hulls, and turrets for the Sherman Tank. It was also during these early years that he met his bride-to-be, Jean H. Barrett. George retired from Beardsley and Piper in 1984 as Senior Vice President with executive responsibility to oversee Engineering Sales and Manufacturing Company Wld. His 47 years of engineering experience covered Machine Design, Hydraulic & Electrical Controls, Foundry Technology, Plant Engineering, Project Management, Preventative Maintenance and Product Safety. In 1985 he organized Koren Engineering offering consulting and design expertise to companies engaged in high production industrial operations and continued this work into his 90's. George served as President, Chairman and Director of the American Foundrymens Society (1968-1979), as President, Vice-President and Director of the Foundry Equipment Manufacturers Association (1976-1981), and as a trustee to the Foundry Educational Foundation (1976-1980) George was the recipient of numerous honors and awards and as a member of the first Boy Scout Troop (Troop 836) in Chicago, he was particularly proud of a distinction he earned that only 4 percent of Boy Scouts nationwide earn ever the rank of Eagle Scout. An avid world traveler, photographer and computer enthusiast, George enjoyed sailing, boating and celebrating life over many years with his family and friends at his home in Chicago and on Channel Lake. As a sports enthusiast, in 1945, George had the opportunity to go to the Cubs World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He was a great American and we will mourn his loss. Funeral services with Mass of Christian burial will be held at 12Noon, Saturday, November 10, 2012 at St. Peter Church, 557 Lake St., Antioch, IL. Interment will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Antioch. Visitation will be from 4-8PM Friday at the STRANG FUNERAL HOME OF ANTIOCH, 1055 Main St. (Rte. 83) Antioch, IL. INFO 847-395-4000. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the Antioch Rescue Squad, or to the Foundrymens Educational Foundation at www.fefinc.org.

Published in News Sun from Nov. 7 to Nov. 13, 2012