August 14, 1930 – March 23, 2026
Rev. George H. Kalb, 95, recently of Edina, MN passed away on March 23, 2026. George was born on August 14,1930 to Cora and George Kalb II. He was the oldest of four boys and grew up on a farm near Hartford, South Dakota.
George graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD in 1948 and then attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchel, SD where he majored in Business and through his involvement in choir met and later married Lorraine Cairns. After graduation in 1952 he served in the Army as a chaplain’s assistant in Japan at Fort Crawford. Lorraine and George were married September 10, 1954. George became a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ following his graduation from Bethel Seminary in 1959. George and Lorraine served for over 50 years in various churches throughout the Midwest including in Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan where his love of people and his Lord were always evident.
He loved his family well including his four children: Steve Kalb (Debby), Becky Sutton (Joel), Tim Kalb, and Debbie Erickson. He has 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and prayed for them all faithfully. Grandpa was always his grandchildren’s greatest fan while attending countless concerts and sporting events. George was an avid gardener, a musician, and letter writer as well as having a weakness for pie or anything sweet. George was most known for his love of his Savior Jesus Christ, and he actively shared with others about his faith and the difference it made in his life.
One of George’s favorite hymns was “Near the Cross” – the chorus goes:
“In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river “
It’s wonderful to think that George is now in glory and reunited with Lorraine and others that have gone before him; however, his family will miss him greatly, his godly counsel, his faithful prayers, his encouraging smile, his willingness to always listen, and of course his love that he gave so freely.
Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
There will be a memorial service for George on Monday, March 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM at First Free Church, 5150 Chicago Avenue South Minneapolis, MN, 55417.
Burial will take place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City with Veteran Honors performed by the Forest City American Legion Post #121 Honor Guard.
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