ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: PROBST, GEORGE DAVID, SR.

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La.

Died: Thursday, January 2, 2014

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PROBST, GEORGE DAVID, SR.
(May 28, 1923 - January 2, 2014)

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 “The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of 
faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace.” – 
Mother Teresa

George David Probst, Sr. passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2014 in Covington, 
LA. 

Having grown up in hard times, surrounded by a loving family and instilled with 
an unshakable faith, George Probst was a man who chose to live a selfless life 
of service to others. 
He was known to all in his life’s path as a devoted husband and father, a 
veteran, community leader and a tireless volunteer. 
George David Probst was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, the son of 
German/Austrian immigrants Franz Josef Probst and Emilia Wolf Probst. 
His parents had sailed to North America on a honeymoon trip in 1904, settled in 
Winnipeg for several years and ultimately became proud, naturalized U.S. 
citizens. 
They moved to Lake Providence, Louisiana in the late 1920’s where Franz worked 
on a sharecropper’s farm. 
On the advice of an African-American railway porter, the elder Probst, who had 
become disturbed by the treatment of farm workers, moved his large family in a 
Model A Ford from North Louisiana to Missouri in 1927. 
They traveled a circuitous route upriver, around the floods from the deluge of 
’27. 
The porter friend provided them the names of churches along the way that would 
give the family shelter en route to a life of farming in the heartland. 

George was the 11th born of 14 children. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard 
during World War II and served his nation protecting American shores. He was 
eventually posted in New Orleans, where as a Boatswains Mate First Class he was 
part of a sub-chasing crew pursuing enemy craft in the Gulf of Mexico in 
protection of U.S. cargo vessels. 

George married Mary Virginia Barbara of Metairie on June 4, 1945, a girl he met 
at a USO dance, and they settled in New Orleans. George was a founding trustee 
of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and was instrumental in the construction 
of the new parish church and school, and in the founding of the 
Gentilly/Lakefront neighborhood that was at the time called Legion Oaks. 
George Probst was the first commander of American Legion Post 333, which was 
comprised mostly of the WWII veterans who settled in Legion Oaks. 
He was a Maintenance Supervisor for Kaiser Aluminum at the Chalmette refinery 
during the 1950’s and at Kaiser’s Gramercy operations from 1959 through his 
retirement in 1980. 
Mr. Probst served as an elected member of the St. James Parish School Board 
from 1968 through 1974, where his leadership helped to implement the 
desegregation of the school system. 
He was honored for 50 years of leadership service with the Boy Scouts of 
America, and for more than 50 years of service to the poor and needy as a 
leader with the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He was also honored with the Order 
of St. Louis Award by the New Orleans Archdiocese for many years of service to 
his parish church, Our Lady of the Lake in Mandeville. Mr. Probst was a Fourth 
Degree Knight with Our Lady of the Lake Council 9240 of the Knights of 
Columbus. 

He is survived by his brother Frank Probst of Kansas City, MO; Mary Virginia 
Barbara Probst, his loving wife of 68 years; and four children: George D. 
Probst Jr. (67) of Donaldsonville, LA; Nancy St. Pierre (65) and husband Wayne 
of Lafayette; Lisa Botzong (58) and husband Bill of Cumming, GA; and Greg 
Probst (53) and wife Jana of Covington, LA. He is survived by nine 
grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

Family members, friends and all who knew George Probst professionally and in 
service knew him as a man who exuded a spirit of peace, contentment and faith. 
He often prayed the rosary and offered many moments of the day in silent 
devotion. 
Mother Teresa’s words seem to explain the fruit of that devotion, which has 
served so many in the path of George David Probst Sr.

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Our Lady of 
the Lake Catholic Church, 312 Lafitte St. Mandeville, LA 70448. Visiting hours 
will begin at 10:00 AM with the mass at 11:30 AM. 
Prior to services at the cemetery, The Knights of Columbus will provide 
refreshments for all those in attendance at the KC Hall across from the church.

Graveside services are scheduled for 2:30 PM at Lakelawn-Metairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Our 
Lady of the Lake

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