Riser, George E.

George E. Riser, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, after an extended illness at Northbrook Care Center, Cedar Rapids. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. William B. Harnish. The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Ella; children, Carolyn (John) O'Connor and Cindy (Glenn Lonsdale) Starks, both of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Mark Kelly, Shannon Starks and Katie Starks; three stepgrandchildren, Lynell, Gina and Nathan O'Connor; two great-grandsons; and two brothers, Charles (Esther) Riser of Connellsville, Pa. and Ronald (Wilma) Riser of North East, Pa.; and two sisters-in-law, Camilla (Bob) Webber and Irene Buker.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

George was born Feb. 22, 1924, the son of Ira and Francis (Davis) Riser in Dunbar, Pa. He served his country in the United States Navy Air Corps in the South Pacific on the Saratoga, during World World II. On Sept. 6, 1945, George was united in marriage to Ella Buker in Lisbon, Iowa. He worked for Rock Island Railroad for 35 years having served as a depot agent at Rowley, Walker, Center Point, Shellsburg and Fourth Street Control Tower in Cedar Rapids.

George was an Eagle Scout and scout leader for 30 boy scouts in Rowley and enjoyed restoring old antique cars. George and Ella spent their winters in Florida for 30 years.

Please sign the online guest book for George at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Dec. 15, 2013.