George Lackermayer

Obituary George Lackermayer George Lackermayer went to rest in peace with his Lord and Savior, and is once again united with his beloved mother and father on December 13, 2012. George was surrounded by family, was at peace with himself, and had the utmost love for his family. He took tremendous pride in knowing he left the world a better place. He approached life with a passion seldom equaled. George was born at home March 5, 1932, the youngest of 11 sisters and brothers, and raised in the small village of Oberganserndorf, located on the outskirts of Vienna, Austria. In Vienna he attended trade schools and completed a technical education in Machining and Tool Making. To expand his horizons, at the age of 20 he made his way to Switzerland to seek employment. He remained in Switzerland for five years, working for the Omega Company in Bern, Switzerland. At the age of 25 he was eager to see the world after the post-World War II peace. George took a scenic ship across the ocean, finally disembarking in the land of plenty - Australia. Having been there no more than 6 months, he met the love of his life, Lisa, in the beautiful city of Adelaide, and knew after a short courtship it was time to marry. There he worked for the car company Holden (GM) as a Tool & Die Maker. While working, George and Lisa purchased and operated a small delicatessen near their home. After working hard in building their lives, and filled with a spirit of adventure, they made a decision to follow their hearts and immigrated to the land of opportunity - the United States of America. George and Lisa arrived in Seattle via Honolulu by ship in the month of April, 1963. After seeing the beautiful area they decided to settle down in the growing City of Tacoma. After working for a machine shop for three years, George decided it was time to start his own company, and thus proudly founded Tool Gauge & Machine Works, Inc. in 1966. In 1969 Lisa gave birth to their first son, Kirk. Two years later they were blessed with another son, Mark. The next 40+ years of George's life were dedicated to hard work, family, and community involvement. One of the proudest days of his life was when he became a Rotarian in 1971. The same year he moved the company to the South Tacoma industrial area and continued to grow his manufacturing business. By 1980, George had over 50 employees and a vast array of modern and classic manufacturing equipment. Always a visionary and continuously striving for excellence, he pursued the latest technology and the best people. He was so proud to see his business grow to what it is today. He was ecstatic that his immediate family was a part of it all while working with exceptional employees that he genuinely cared for. As any of them know he wanted the best for them and expected the best from them! George is survived by his loving wife and best friend Lisa, his two sons, Kirk (Christine) and Mark (Suzanne), three wonderful grandchildren, six sisters and brothers, and a numerous amount of nieces, nephews and family back home in Austria. George and Lisa were proud and happy to enjoy 55+ years of marriage. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, December 21, 2012, 11:00 am, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Tacoma, Washington. Celebration to follow at the Landmark Convention Center, Grand Ballroom - 47 Saint Helens Ave, Tacoma. The Lackermayer Family would like to thank all of George's friends along his life journey that knew and loved him. We would also like to thank the entire staff of Virginia Mason Hospital. Their professionalism, care and proficiency, as George would say, is "Top Notch". In lieu of flowers or memorial contributions please forward your generosity to the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society in the name of George Lackermayer.