George Veitch

A Celebration of Life will be held in July of 2026. 

Donations are not needed but if you’d like, a donation to People for Pets in Spencer would be appropriate.

George Henry Veitch died of natural causes at his Ruthven home the morning of March 30, 2026. George was born on May 21, 1949 to parents Donald and Dorothy(Henry) Veitch of Spencer. George is survived by his wife of 44 years, LeAnn J. McGranahan, originally of rural Dickens, his sister, Patricia Anderson (Eric) of Spirit Lake, niece Chantelle Foote (Bob), great nieces Regan Heckman (Marty) daughter Addy Heckman , Reilly Sellers (Evan) and great nephew Zachary (Ashly) daughter Harper.

He is also survived by two dogs, Gabriel and Stanley, and nine cats. George had a very deep love for all the pets he had over his lifetime.

He played on the high school football team. His favorite area of study was history. George graduated with the Spencer Class of 1967. George learned the value of work at a young age starting with a paper route. When he could drive he spent years working at Stub’s Ranch Kitchen, where he met LeAnn, and as part of the clean-up crew at the House of Plenty. He also spent time working at the Spencer Packing House and bar tending. Where ever he worked he became a favorite employee of the employer, other employees and customers.

In 1969 George enlisted in the army. Like many young men in those days he did a tour in Viet Nam. He served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, also known as “tropical lighting”. He served 1 year, 7 months and 4 days of active service.

During his time of service he was awarded the Purple Heart along with the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

His 46 years of employment with USDA/Food Safety and Inspection Service started in April 1973. His first assigned duty station was Waterloo and then Storm Lake. George loved his job and everyone enjoyed working with him. And he was good at his job.

George took a two year leave of absence from the USDA in November 1982 to travel with LeAnn to Lusaka, Zambia, East Africa for LeAnn’s work. George found employment with Hybrid Poultry, LTD out of the U.K. His work with Hybrid Poultry involved using his expertise in improving their poultry slaughter operations in Lusaka and Kitwe. The Kitwe manager’s name was “John Veitch”, maybe a distant relative?

George and LeAnn got to see much of East Africa, including Zambia and traveling to South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The giraffes were George’s favorite African wildlife.

The couple returned to Ames, Iowa in 1984 along with two dogs. George rejoined the USDA in 1985 and he and LeAnn moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon where his duty station was in Creswell. They continued their love of travel, vacationing in France, Amsterdam and Morocco, North Africa. They lived in Oregon for 18 years. Then it was time for another big move.

George got assigned to Paauilo, a small town along the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. Hawaii was perfect for George as he could golf everyday of the year. The plant, Hawaii Beef Producers, was a small beef slaughter plant on a country gravel road, looking right over the ocean. If he wasn’t working, he was golfing. He joined the Hamakua Country Club, a nine hole course in Honokaa. His fellow golfers loved him. He was there bright and early, ready to work when it was a Saturday Members workday. After 18 years, there is only so many times you can drive around an island until you’ve seen and done everything.

In June 2021, it was time for retirement and another big move, back to Iowa and a house in Ruthven.

George is going to be missed by everyone he came into contact with. He always had a ready smile for you. He always had some story or other to relate. Whenever work was needed, he’d be the first to step up.

Geelan Funeral Home is assisting his family.