George Peck Jr. passed away peacefully on November 18. He was born in Hydesville on March 7, 1925 and lived in the Fortuna area for his entire life, except for a brief move to Santa Cruz as a child and his time in the Navy.

He joined the Navy as soon as he graduated from Fortuna High School and spent his tour of duty during WWII in the South Pacific on an aircraft refueling ship. He began his work as a carpenter with Greer Construction who built most of the track housing off Newburg Road in Fortuna. He started Eel River Construction with Bollie Olson and Tony Mendes and they worked together for many years until George started his own construction company.

George was responsible for many home builds and remodels in the area. Upon his retirement he still did many jobs and worked for the Eureka Inn, building the carousel for Christmas, and an early renovation of the Rathskeller; as well as work on the Gingerbread Mansion in Ferndale.

An avid outdoorsman, he loved to hunt and fish and spent many autumns hunting on Rainbow Ranch near Honeydew and in Hayfork. He enjoyed ocean fishing with his nephew and went out several times a year. The fishing wasn’t always great but the company and scenery were.

George married Helen Dusina in 1947. They were together for 72 years until Helen’s death in 2019. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fortuna. George and Helen both loved their dogs and could be seen around town walking their many Schnauzers. He was a master gardener and spent many hours plowing, planting, and harvesting countless varieties of fruits and vegetables. George had a beautiful yard which he tended with Helen and decorated with bird houses he built in his shop.

George is preceded in death by parents Rachel and George Peck, his sister Barbara and her husband Willard Iversen, brothers and sister in laws, Norma and Frank Berti and Alice and Hector Senestraro. He was the last of the generation.

He is survived by his son Dennis (Susan) Peck, grandchildren Erin (Steve) Barr, and Jordan (Casey) Peck and his great-granddaughter Juniper Peck. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. At George’s request there will be no services. Donations can be made to Humboldt Historical Society or Hospice of Humboldt.

As George would always say, “I’ll see you when the wind shifts,” and we hope he now has fair winds and calm seas.