George H. Mathes Jr.

George H. Mathes Jr., 87, of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully at home on February 3, 2026, surrounded by his wife, Jacquie; son, Steven; daughter, Beth; and their two cats, Oscar and Olivia. George was born on September 6, 1938, in Burlington, Iowa, the eldest of 13 children of George H. Mathes Sr. and Rosemary (nee Donohoo) Mathes.

George is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (nee Pulfer) Mathes; his children, Elizabeth Castle (Clifford), Patrick Mathes (Roxana), and Steven Mathes (Jennifer); five grandchildren, Kirsten Whipps (Kevin), Noah, Liam, Garrett, and Taylor Mathes; and two great-grandchildren, KJ and Kaylie Whipps. He is also survived by his sisters, Ann Patterson, Gracie Pennebaker, Katie Merton, Eileen Vorwerk, Rosie Kaiser and Barbara Brown; brothers, James Mathes and Robert Mathes; along with many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Rosemary Mathes; brothers, William, Richard and John Mathes; sister, Jane Mathes Learned; and his father- and mother-in-law, Ralph and Lenora Pulfer.

George was raised and educated in Burlington, Iowa, graduating from high school there, with the exception of his sophomore year spent at St. Ambrose Academy in Davenport, Iowa. He then attended Northwest Prep School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, followed by three years at the U.S. Naval Academy and two years at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

In 1964, George completed his flight training and was assigned to an A-4 Skyhawk training squadron, followed by assignment to an attack squadron at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. He embarked on an extended Mediterranean Sea cruise aboard the aircraft carrier Saratoga. Upon returning, he was sent to a West Coast A-4 squadron based in Lemoore, California, which later deployed to Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. Following that cruise, George was assigned as a Flight Deck Officer on the USS America in 1967. He completed his tour of duty and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy later that year.

In November of 1967, George was hired by United Airlines in Chicago, initially working as an industrial engineer before transitioning to his true passion as a pilot, a career he would enjoy for the next 30 years. He earned his MBA in 1972 and later obtained his real estate broker’s license.

In 1974, George met United Airlines flight attendant Jacqueline Kay Pulfer on Flight 123 from Chicago to San Francisco. Neither was working the flight, as both were traveling as passengers and happened to be seated across the aisle from one another. They were married on January 31, 1975, in Jackson Center, Ohio, beginning more than 50 wonderful years together.

George retired as a United Airlines Captain in 1998 and went on to work as a Certified Financial Planner for a financial firm in Milwaukee. He and Jacquie enjoyed 18 years filled with friendships, parties, and sporting events through the company

George had a deep love of reading and knowledge and enjoyed sharing what he learned with others. Jacquie often woke up to assigned reading material George had printed for her to read that day. His passing feels like the loss of a great library, as he carried so much knowledge with him.

He was also a devoted genealogist, tracing his ancestry back hundreds of years and helping others discover their family roots. George hired archivists and historians to research his and Jacquie’s ancestors both abroad and throughout the United States. Jacquie fondly referred to the experience as “digging up bones,” which led to meeting newly discovered relatives and enjoying many lunches, dinners, and years of cherished family friendships.

George was a long-time member of RUPA, the Retired United Pilots Association, where members met throughout the year to reminisce about their flying careers at United, in the military, and wherever aviation had taken them. When a member passed, they would say, “Another one flew west.”

For more than 25 years, George also enjoyed Wednesday morning breakfast with an eclectic group of men at Andy’s Restaurant in Crystal Lake. With the same group, he shared many years of golf and a beer afterward.

George was loved and admired by many and will be deeply missed. He was a kind, loving, and generous man.

Graveside memorial services will be held in early summer in Ohio and Iowa in the fall.

Memorials to honor George's life can be made to an organization of your passion!