George Fritz Hirschfield

Obituary for George F. Hirschfield

On April 21 st , 2026, George Hirschfield passed away while living at Metro West Nursing
Home in Orlando, Florida. Born on September 18, 1937 in Lavriv, Ukraine to Anastasia
(Kosiuk) and Herbert Hirschfeld. Refugees during WWII, they eventually moved to the
Emden area of Germany. In 1951 they received approval to emigrate to the United
States and the family sailed for two weeks on the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (which
was eventually sunk off the coast of Florida in 2009), arriving in New York City. After
two years living in NYC and Plainfield, NJ, they finally settled in Forest Park, Illinois.
George graduated from Proviso East High School and immediately joined the US Army.
Coupled with his military career, he also joined the Oak Park Police Department in 1969
from which he retired as a Sergeant in 1989. His military career lasted 34 years (three
years of active duty and 31 years of reserve duty), and he achieved the highest rank (E-
9) of Sergeant Major. He rose to his highest position of Inspector General.
In 1990 he retired to Lehigh Acres, Florida where spent the next 35 years enjoying his
home, family and friends.
He is survived by his daughters, Grace Trendel (Martin), Winkie Ilic (Jovan),
grandchildren Lauren Prochnow (Tom), Mihajlo Ilic; stepson John Saif and stepdaughter
Jenny (Ted) Schweiger. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary (Baur) Hirschfield.

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