George Joseph Neumayer

George Joseph Neumayer was born on April 13, 1926, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho to Joe and Goldie Neumayer. George was the third of six children and was born in the middle of the Great Depression. He and his siblings were raised in Bonners Ferry where George graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1944. While in high school, George was part of the boxing team and was manager of the high school football team. The Neumayer family was very resourceful during the Depression, always planting a huge garden and raising animals for food. This created a love of the outdoors which he turned into a lifelong passion for hunting, fishing and adventuring. 

In June of 1944, one week after high school graduation, George was drafted into the US Army. This was also the same week that D-Day occurred. He attended basic training in Fort Worden, WA and then was assigned to a “Gun Pit”, which he did not enjoy so he volunteered to become a Bugler. In 1945, George was transferred to Gainesville, Texas where he completed Infantry Replacement Training, preparing for deployment to Europe. Once this training was complete, he was transferred to Fort Ord, California and was assigned to the 1344 Combat Engineer Unit. When World War II ended in 1944, George was honorably discharged and was able to return home to his family in Bonners Ferry. 

In September of that year, he enrolled at the University of Idaho where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and was student manager of the Vandals Football Team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and met the beautiful Leola Sumner from Troy, Idaho. George and Leola were married on February 17, 1951, and together they had four children: Pamela Sommer (Rob), Julie Thompson (Jeff), Terri Hisel (John) and Joseph (Skip) Neumayer (Jennifer), 9 Grandchildren and 7 Great-Grandchildren. 

George’s Civilian career began when he and Leola moved to Ohio where they both worked at an Atomic Plant. While in Ohio, George earned his pilot’s license and joined the Civil Air patrol, reaching the rank of Captain. After a couple of years in Ohio, George and Leola moved to Spokane, Washington and started their family. 

1961 George accepted the position as Personnel Manager at the Idaho Department of Highways (now ITD) and he and Leola moved to Boise’s North end. George spent his entire career at ITD, eventually becoming the Deputy Director. While serving as ITD’s Deputy Director, George also performed duties at the discretion of Idaho’s Governors, becoming a “trouble shooter” and Interim Director of seven separate state agencies. He retired from the State of Idaho in 1991 where former Governor Cecil Andrus remarked that “George was one of Idaho’s finest public servants.” 

George could not stay retired for long as Governor Andrus and Governor Phil Batt again called on his expertise to assist with a number of organizational management assignments. Finally in 1997, George’s service to Idaho was complete and he and Leola spent their retirement years square dancing across Idaho and Arizona and traveling the world. In 2016 George was selected to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington DC for WW II veterans. 

George was always very active in the Boise Community as a member Boise Exchange Club, Boise Toastmasters International, University of Idaho Boosters and the Orville Jackson American Legion Post 127 in Eagle, Idaho.

George was a devoted husband, a treasured father, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa. It was his passion to remain involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. His eagerness to help and his ambitious spirit meant he led a full and active life, finally caring for the love of his life, Leola, until her passing in May 2023. George has been a resident of Garden Plaza at Valley View since Leola’s passing where he made many friends. 

The family wishes to thank the residents and staff of Garden Plaza at Valley View for becoming extended family, and Dr. Grace Adamson and the St. Luke’s 7 Floor East care team for their love and exceptional care in George’s final days. The family also expresses their deep gratitude to Tech Sergeant Lucas O’Neill for standing watch over George in his final hours. 

Services will be held on Friday, January 24th at 2 pm at the Cathedral of the Rockies where George and Leola were charter members. A Private burial will follow at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. In lieu of flowers the family requests that in George’s honor, contributions be made to Putts for Patriots, a local Veteran’s group, or the WW II Museum in New Orleans, LA.