George "Bud" Shreffler

Gibsonburg resident, George “Bud” Shreffler, 82, passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 14, 2016 while in Grove City, OH. He was born on July 26, 1934 in Fremont, OH to the late Allen G. and Arlene (Berkheimer) Shreffler. He married Peggy Jean Walender on July 30, 1955 in Cuyahoga Falls, she survives him. George grew up in Gibsonburg and was a 1953 graduate of Gibsonburg High School.

George followed in the footsteps of his father and became a business owner. He and his wife established, and ran Shreffler Refrigeration, an HVAC company, in 1965. It was a family run business employing his sons and several others over the years. George retired in 2002. He was a member of Local 50 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.

George’s real passion was for raising and showing his chickens and ducks. He was known affectionately by all in the chicken world as “Chicken George”. He was most famously known for raising and showing the Rhode Island Red breed. George had many award winning birds, and traveled all of the U.S. and even Bermuda showing his chickens. He passed while in Grove City doing what he truly loved, getting ready for one of the biggest chicken shows around. George was a member of the American Poultry Association and American Bantam Association. He was a longtime member of the Sandusky County Fair Board, serving as a director of the poultry department. He also served as a judge at many shows.

George was a member of the Fremont Rifle and Pistol Team as well as the National Rifle Association of America. He earned many marksmanship awards. He belonged to the Sandusky County Sportsman’s Club and the Fremont Outing Club. George Had been an avid golfer in his earlier years and belonged to the Fremont Country Club.

He sponsored and coached midget league baseball in Gibsonburg for many years. His teams may not have won any championships, but he believed that giving every kid the opportunity to actually play was more important than winning.

No longer will George make his morning and afternoon trips uptown to Kate & Al’s for his daily dose of coffee, fellowship and town gossip. No longer will his physical presence be felt at the chicken barn at the county fair or chicken shows. He will be greatly missed by many.

Surviving George is his wife, Peggy of 61 years; sons, George R. (Cheryl) Shreffler, and Allen (Elizabeth) Shreffler, both of Gibsonburg, and Kevin (Tracy Bryant) Shreffler of Helena; daughters, Gale (Joe)Yehoda of Schnecksville, PA, and Kyle (Darin) Halstead of Delaware, OH; grandchildren, George R., Melissa, Sarah, Rachel, Ashley, Katherine, Karol, Joshua, Matthew, Cayla, Alicia, and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Ian, Lewis, Aidan, Rylee, Baily, Ella, George A., Garrett, Molly, Roman, and Sterling; and siblings, Janet McClish of Gibsonburg, and Walter (Ruth) Shreffler of Celina.

He is preceded in death by his parents; infant brother; brother, Richard; and brother-in-law, Loran McClish.

Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at the Herman-Veh Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Gibsonburg. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Four Mile House Cemetery, Fremont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sandusky County Agricultural Society – Poultry Department.