George L. Durand, 89, died July 7, 2016, at Viera Hospital in Melbourne, Fla. Born July 16, 1926, in Hoisington, he was the son of Louis and Anna (Sette) Durand.  In 1944 he graduated from Hoisington High School. He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy 137th Construction Battalion in Okinawa. He returned to Hoisington and married Glennis Margaret Pflughoeft on July 20, 1947. For 35 years, George lived in Great Bend and was a master mechanic with Jack Bell & Company, Davis-Childs Chevrolet & Cadillac and Reiter Chevrolet. After retirement, he worked diligently for Dixon D. Powers and Dillon's. His passions in life included being a dedicated husband, loving father, supportive grandfather and doting great-grandfather. He loved the outdoors and using his hands to build and fix things.

Mr. Durand was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend, a proud supporter and parent of the Argonne Rebels in Great Bend and a survivor of the polio epidemic in 1952.

Survivors include his wife, Glennis, of the home; two daughters Kathy Hancock and husband Randy of Fort Worth, Texas and Colleen Stevenson of Rockledge, Fla.; six grandchildren Kelly Schmitt and wife Kim of Wichita, Dawn Buhrkuhl and husband Joey of Arlington, Texas, Monica Dow and husband John of Flower Mound, Texas, Tiffany Mansell and husband Shane of Arlington, Texas, Mark Stevenson and wife Michelle of Orlando, Fla., and Michelle Popilek and husband Scott of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and 12 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one brother, Marvin Durand.