George Dresel

George Dresel was born in Etzdorf (Fränkische Schweiz, Gemeinde Goessweinstein, Germany) on 25. September 1892. He was one of 12 siblings. After the early death of his mother (her birth name was Fellner - she was borne in Geusmanns, Germany) George was raised by his aunt in Goessweinstein. He visited the "Volksschule" in Goessweinstein 1898 - 1905. He bcame a metal worker and fitter in Bamberg. Then he worked in Munich with Kachelmann & Sohn, a gearwheel factory. 1917 he served at the German Army in WW I. Until 1923 he was a foreman at Kachelmann & Sohn. 1921 he married Rosa Schweiger. 1923 his father in law paid for his travel expenses to the US, where he found work in Belleville. 1929 he became a citizien of the US. 1932, his companion Frank Betz from Munich, joined George.to found the Dresel-Betz company in Belleville, Illinois. 1945 he provided help for many citiziens of Goessweinstein.and donated later the museum of local history in Goessweinstein. 1954 he visited Goessweinstein for the first time after WW II. He and his wife came back every two years to visit their relatives and friends. 1961 he was honoured and got the honorary citizenship of Goessweinstein. When he died 1974 only one sister, a nun in Rome/Italy, had survived George.