Philip George 12/04/2025

Philip Burton George
Dr. Philip B. George of River Falls, WI died peacefully at home on December 4, 2025, at the age of 79. Phil was born to Ernest and Gertrude George on August 11, 1946, in Oakdale, California. Phil graduated from Thomas Downey High School in 1964. He worked at Shell Development Company before going on to study Animal Science at California State University at Fresno. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science in 1970 and continued at California State University of Fresno to complete a Master of Science Degree in the School of Agriculture Science. He continued his education with a PhD in Animal Science at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, in the Fall of 1975. He continued at OSU in the Animal Science Department prior to accepting a teaching position with UW-River Falls. Phil stayed at UW-River Falls until the end of Fall Semester, 2007. In his tenure of 30 years at UW-River Falls, he was a teaching faculty member, the Department Chair of the Animal Science Department, and Director of the Academic Success Center. He enjoyed teaching and reaching out to all students. Phil received teacher of the year in 1990 from the College of Agriculture and the prestigious Distinguished Teacher of the Year for the University in 1988. Part of Phil’s teaching experience was going to Guadalajara, Mexico, for many years, teaching the students there about swine production. He also traveled to Africa in 1981 to work with agricultural faculty and learn about agriculture in many of the countries of Africa. Phil was also involved in faculty governance and was a member of the Faculty Senate and became Chair of the Faculty Senate five times. Phil crossed different areas of discipline during his 30 years at UW-River Falls and enjoyed the camaraderie of faculty from around campus. However, Phil’s great love was teaching and mentoring students. He was an advisor for the Alpha Gamma Rho-Alpha Psi for many years and enjoyed the enthusiasm of working with students. Phil received the Alpha Gama Brother of the Year in 2004 and the outstanding Chapter Advisor in 2003. Phil’s pin number was 532.
Phil met the love of his life, Judy Cutino, in December 1968 when he rescued her and a friend on a rainy night out by the horse barns in Fresno. They met again in January 1969 and became a couple and married on September 12, 1970. The were married at St. Thomas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada (a compromise between the couple and her parents). Phil and Judy had a long and happy marriage and enjoyed traveling all over the United States, but especially the Southwest. They especially loved traveling to Texas with Larry and Diane Kasten and California with Tom and Anne Goerke. Throughout their life, Phil and Judy rescued many dogs (mainly German Wire-Haired Pointers) and kitties who Phil said were “feral.” The kitties were not feral, just abandoned kitties looking for a home and they instinctively knew Phil was a pushover for a hungry kitten!
Family does not always mean a blood relationship. Phil and Judy found “family” with the Kasten clan! Jeff and Shannon and their children, Lauren and Taylor, welcomed Phil and Judy into their home for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Larry and Diane and their children, Chandra and Kate, welcomed Phil and Judy into their home on Christmas Eve and many, many other nights. Phil truly loved the Kasten family and appreciated their love and thoughtfulness. Phil and Judy have had many great friendships through the journey of two lost Californians in Wisconsin and Phil loved all of you!
After retiring, Phil enjoyed shooting clay pigeons with an excellent group of friends. Phil joined the River Falls Rod & Gun Club, but the group traveled to many different gun clubs over the years. One of those trips, to Warrens, Wisconsin, lead to Phil deciding that we needed one more German Wire-Haired Pointer, and Chica came into our lives. The shooting group ended up forging great friendships with Dan Frederick, Mike Keenan, Virgil Nylander, Greg Keith, Mel Warren, Russell Nelson and many other great members of the gun club. Phil valued these friendships, and the men have been a significant help during the last few years. Phil’s other great love was riding his motorcycle with his friend Rick Thorne. They had some great rides in Wisconsin and Minnesota and in the mountains of Colorado.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Gertrude George, father and mother-in-law, Dominic and Mary Cutino; sisters-in-law, Luanne Stetler, Patricia Hammon, brothers-in-law, Mike Harris, Jack Stetler, and David R. Hammon, and nephew, Patrick Hammon. Phil is survived by his loving wife Judy; sisters, Corie Brooks and Trudy Harris; nieces, Geneva and Lindsay Brooks, Britt Hammon, and Stacey (Kenny) Spencer; nephews, Rodney Ferrario, David S. Hammon, Dominic Hammon, and Scott Stetler; and many great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Phil’s Life will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 3 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI.  Visitation will also be on Wednesday from 1-3 pm at the funeral home. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch Phil’s service live on Wednesday at 3 pm