George Solsvig

George Elden Frank Solsvig passed away peacefully on April 16th, 2025 at the age of 85 at Christian Community Homes of Osceola surrounded by his family. His love, smile, jokes, and waves will be greatly missed. George was an amazing storyteller who sometimes blurred the lines of truth and fiction with lots of razzle-dazzle. He knew just about everybody, and if he didn’t know you, he would learn to know you quickly.

George was born on January 14th, 1940, in Minneapolis, MN to Ruth (Guiswite) Solsvig and Elden Solsvig. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1958. Upon his graduation, he went into the Army National Guard and was called to duty. In the army, he was Bravo Company, First Battalion 128th Infantry, ranked a specialist (E4) and was a recipient of the sharp-shooter marksmanship badge.

George had a strong work ethic and his resume could be described as eclectic with careers spanning many industries. He started his first business at age 6, cleaning gutters. He, then, worked as a cook, a well driller, a farmer, an entrepreneur, car dealership co-owner, and a stable owner. He built and owned the world-famous Somerset Dairy Queen that fed thousands of hungry tubers every summer. He also owned the garbage service in Somerset that cleaned up after them. In the 1970’s, he was elected mayor of Somerset, and navigated an eventful term including a bomb threat at the high school, a bank robbery, and he had a well-known television interview that questioned the cleanliness of the Apple River. In a great act of showmanship, he dunked a glass of water in the river and drank it on TV to save the tubing industry. He was a maverick and an ambitious leader. He zoned and opened the Somerset industrial business park, and invited industrial businesses to open and expand in the small community by offering 5-acre plots of commercial land to enterprises that took root in Somerset at the time for just $1.

George was a beloved father, grandfather, and friend to many. Whether you knew him as George, Georgie Porgie, Gorgeous George, Dad, or Grandpa you knew he was a lover of licorice, laughs and ladies, and he lived life to the fullest. He enriched his life with many hobbies and pastimes. He was an avid classic car collector and builder, enthusiastic hunter and sportsman, accomplished pilot, extensive world traveler, animal lover and horse border, groomer, breeder, and showman, life-saver, and community leader.

George is preceded in death by his mother Ruth and father Elden, aunt Merese and uncle Robert Millard, sister Janet (Solsvig) Laatsch, a stillborn sister, brother-in-law Roy Laatsch, Nephew Robert (Bobby) Millard, and Son-in-law Archie Montpetit.

He is survived by his children Steve (Janet) Foster, Cindy (Brian) Olson, Mick (Betsy) Foster, Tim (Minda) Foster, Paulette (Larry) Kutzler, Chrissy (Matt) Bibeau, Susie (John) Santer, Jenni Martin, his grandchildren, Steve (Jessica) Foster, Mandy Foster, Angel (Chad) Maack, Archie (Megan) Montpetit, Marshall Foster (Lisa Orth), Brennan (Emma) Foster, Alaina Barthman, Michael (Karen) Marzolf, Emmitt Foster, Mitchell Foster (Julia Nyberg) Tanner (Margaret) Kutzler, Kelsey Kutzler, Justin (Karen) Solsvig, Sharisse Germain (Kris Henke), Billie Jo (Michael) Nielsen, Heidi Germain (Devin Hetzel), Logan Seiler (Kyla Schewe), Lilly Seiler, and great-grandchildren Paige Foster, Carter Maack (Kenzie Myers), Gabby Maack, Abby Yanez, Skyler Montpetit, Archie Montpetit Jr., Vada Foster, Eloise Foster, Naya Kutzler, Jackie Nielsen, and Ellie Nielsen. He is also survived by Jackie Solsvig (Judy Dean) Patricia Crandall, Mark Crandall, Dan Crandall (Monica Gonsorowski), Kurt Crandall, The Laatsch Family: Marilyn, Nancy, Mark, and David and their spouses and children, along with many more relatives, and many friends.

A memorial service to celebrate George’s life will be held on Sunday, April 27th at O’Connell Funeral Home, 520 S 11th St. Hudson, WI. Visitation with light refreshments 1:00pm-3:00pm, Memorial Service at 3:00pm followed by burial at Willow River Cemetery in Hudson, WI.

Funeral services entrusted to O’Connell Funeral Home of Hudson.