Father George F. Askar, Jr.

Father George F. Askar, Jr., 84, of Port Huron, died Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

He was born November 30, 1933 in Port Huron to the late George F. and Irene M. Askar.

He was a 1950 graduate of St. Stephen High School and attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Eastern Michigan University and St. Mary College and St. Maur Seminary in Kentucky.

He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana on May 20, 1967. He celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church in Port Huron on May 21, 1967.

Father George served the Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana as pastor of St. Joseph Church, Winchester, Sacred Heart Church in Remington, and St. Mary Church in Dunnington. He also served as Chaplain of Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette and Associate Pastor of St. Mary Church in Muncie, Senior Associate Pastor of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Lafayette and was Chaplain at St. Joseph - Mercy Hospital, Port Huron.

After his retirement, Father George served the Archdiocese of Detroit as a Senior Associate Priest for ten years at St. Mary Catholic Church, Port Huron, where he celebrated his Golden Jubilee on May 21, 2017.

He was a member and Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council #11756 and a Fourth Degree Member of Assembly #2521. He was voted Knight of the Year in 2017.

Father George made a pilgrimage to Israel in 2009 with his nephew, Gary, and 30 other close friends from other local parishes.

He is survived by his sister, Linda Askar-Stoldt of Fort Gratiot; his aunt, Virginia Engelgau of Lansing; three nephews, Gary (Karen) Stoldt of Port Huron, Ryan (Erica) Stoldt of Attica and Keith Askar of Rhode Island; four nieces, Mary Askar of Chesterfield, Denise (Kevin) Beardsley of Macomb, Karen Fullerton of North Carolina and Bernadette (Rodney) King of Metamora; and several cousins; and many close friends from Indiana and Port Huron. He was preceded in death by his nephew, Douglas Patton and his brother, Darwin John Askar.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2018 in St. Mary Catholic Church. A Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday in the church.

Father George will lie in state on Monday, March 5, 2018 in St. Mary Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until the time of Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

The Rite of Committal will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. The Knights of Columbus will serve as pallbearers.

The family prefers memorials be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Port Huron.