George E. Schell

George E. Schell, 93, of Eden Prairie, died on Dec. 12, 2023.

Curious and gregarious, George delighted in the future writers, journalists and actors he taught over five decades at Robbinsdale Cooper, Minneapolis South and Eden Prairie high schools. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, he graduated from Dakota City (Nebraska) High School and Wayne State College in 1951, where he majored in education with minors in journalism and theater arts. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952 (Korean Conflict) and served stateside in Death Valley on an anti-aircraft gun battery unit.

By the mid-1960s, after teaching jobs in Nebraska and Wyoming, George was teaching English and journalism at Minneapolis South, where he also was the faculty advisor for the student newspaper and student play director. Working at the printer one night, a typesetter introduced him to Judy Mona, the advisor for the student newspaper at Minneapolis Central. Their 40-year marriage lasted until Judy’s death from cancer in 2008. George and Judy, along with Hattie Steinberg from St. Louis Park, ran a summer program for the Minnesota High School Press Association that influenced the careers of many well-recognized newspaper writers and broadcasters.

Married in 1968, their son, Steve, was born in 1971. They moved to Eden Prairie in 1975 where Kristen was born the next year.

George and Judy loved to travel (as often as possible via train) and spent a full school year (1984) in Australia as part of a teacher exchange program. He was an active member of the Eden Prairie Lions Club and became the volunteer newsletter editor of every organization he touched. He was an active member of Silver Sneakers, often setting up trips to concerts and Guthrie plays.

Hospitalized a week earlier due to a fall, he recommended novels, movies, and plays to visitors from his hospital bed until the day before his death.

Survivors include his daughter, Kristen; son, Steve (Kris), and granddaughters, Chloe and Ivy; sister, Sally Strub; brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Linda Mona; their sons, Erik (Danica) and Kirk (Chelsey) and their son, Camden; Dave (Jane) Strub; Patti (Mark) Yelich; Mike Strub and his children; Rick (Julie) Strub and their children; and Mark (Alison) Bates and their children in Melbourne, Australia.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at Huber Funeral Home, 16394 Glory Lane, Eden Prairie. A visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie.

Arrangements were handled by Huber Funeral & Cremation Services Eden Prairie Chapel (952-949-4970).