Dr. George A. Muck, 68, of Belvidere Township, Ill., died Tuesday, September 26, 2006 in O.S.F. St. Anthony Medical Center Emergency Department from a sudden illness. Born September 28, 1937 in Filmore, Illinois, the son of George O. and Edna (Funderburk) Muck. He resided in Rockford from 1962 to 1974 when he moved to Belvidere Township. George married Eleanor Joanne Inness in Galesburg, Illinois on June 6, 1959. George received his B.S. in 1959, his M.S. in 1960 and his PhD in Dairy Science in 1962 from the University of Illinois. He came to work for Dean Foods Company in October 1962 in their Research Department. In 1967, he became their Director of Research and in 1970 was named Vice President of Research and Quality Assurance, a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 2002. He was a member of Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford, and First United Methodist Church of Belvidere. He served as Director of the United Methodist Foundation; Administrative Board of Education at Court Street United Methodist Church; as an Assistant 4-H Club Leader; on the Citizens Advisory Committee for School District 100; and member of the American Shorthorn Association. His professional memberships consist of the American Dairy Science Association; American Culture Dairy Products Institute; National Dairy Council Board of Directors and as Secretary; Illinois Association of Milk and Food Sanitation. Activities and committees he was involved in were: Past Cottage Cheese and All Products Judge for Collegiate Dairy Products Judging Contest; Delegate to Food Codex Committee on Edible Ices, Stockholm, Sweden; he served on Federal FDA Regulatory Committees; he was on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, University of Illinois, Food Science Advisory Commitee and University of Wisconsin Dairy Center Advisory Committee. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dairy Science Association; and an Award of Merit for Outstanding Agriculture Alumni Award. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal and University of Illinois Illini Fan. He enjoyed showing Cattle with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed raising Quality Shorthorn Cattle and was a Big Fan of all the activities that his grandchildren were in. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, of Belvidere, Twp.; five children, Jane (Paul) Zeien; Belvidere; Dale (Suzette) Muck, Caledonia; Nancy (Ron) Ramos, Belvidere; Lori (Austin) Reisetter, Rockford; Lynn Muck, Belvidere; father, George O. Muck, Belvidere; ten grandchildren, Nathan and Nicole Zeien; Savannah Peters; Abigail and Dellana Muck; Justin and Jeremy Ramos; Christian, Noah and Jacob Reisetter; a brother, Leon (Katie) Muck; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church for Youth Scholarships or to the Boone County 4-H Program.