George Propstra1,2 
M, (24 June 1914 - 26 December 2004)
George Propstra was born on 24 June 1914 at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.3,1 He was the son of Jacob Propstra and Anna [—?—].4 George Propstra married, at age 23, Margaret Kettenring, age 21, daughter of Fred Morgan Kettenring and Katherine Ann McLean, on Saturday, 29 January 1938 at Vancouver, Clark County, Washington.3,1,2 George Propstra married Carolyn [—?—] circa 1992.2 George Propstra died on 26 December 2004 at Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, Clark County, Washington, at age 90 years, 6 months and 2 days.1,2
His obituary was published on 28 December 2004 in the The Oregonian, printed in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. His obituary stated:
Burgerville founder George Propstra dies
The restaurateur, working on a project the day before he died, gave millions to schools and civic projects in Clark County
VANCOUVER -- George Propstra, who founded the Burgerville chain and donated millions to schools and community causes, died early Sunday. He was 90.
Although he retired from the company more than a decade ago, Propstra never really left workaday life. He was regarded as the chain's best customer and toughest critic. The day before he died he was working out details for a bakery he planned to open next year in downtown Vancouver.
"This is what keeps me young," Propstra told a family member earlier this year.
Propstra rode the fast-food wave in the early 1960s but distinguished his chain by using only Northwest ingredients to support local suppliers. The belief in supporting his neighbors turned out to be good business, eventually causing Burgerville to be best known for its seasonal fruit milkshakes, Walla Walla sweet onion rings and Tillamook cheeseburgers.
In later years, he gave millions back to the community that made him wealthy.
Along with his wife, Carolyn, Propstra donated nearly $8.5 million to Vancouver School District projects, providing the financial support to build a community center, a public swimming-pool complex and a baseball field. He spent $3 million to help renovate the city of Vancouver's downtown Esther Short Park, including construction of a Community Square that features the Salmon Run Tower and glockenspiel.
Propstra also donated $250,000 so Southwest Washington Medical Center could built a clinic for needy women and children, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars to the I Have a Dream Foundation and smaller local charities.
"He always talked about how the community supported him and how he wouldn't have been the success he was without their support," said Tom Mears, Burgerville president and Propstra's son-in-law. "He had the opportunity to give back to the community in a big way, and he did."
Propstra was brought to Southwest Washington Medical Center on Friday. On Saturday he talked to a partner by phone about a business they planned to open, Mears said.
"His heart just stopped" Sunday, Mears said.
Propstra's health had been declining in recent years.
"George Propstra set the standard for giving back to one's community," Mayor Royce E. Pollard said in a statement.
REDEFINING CHARITABLE GIVING
Although many people knew about Propstra's giving, he was never comfortable in the spotlight, said those who worked closely with him.
"He's redefined charitable giving for our city," said Nancy Hales of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. "George is our beloved citizen. He left a legacy that will last forever."
Propstra approached Hales to arrange several philanthropic projects about 15 years ago. He was direct and clear, she said.
"He decided it was his time, he was going to step up to the plate and respond to calls for help," Hales said. "And he's never turned back."
The seeds of Propstra's giving were planted in children.
Propstra retrofitted about 10 playgrounds, day-care centers and school classrooms used by handicapped children, Hales said. The price tag for each was about $30,000.
He quietly helped put many such projects over the top, said Jim Parsley, former Vancouver School District superintendent and Propstra's friend.
"The gifts he gave to this community -- besides his enormous vision and leadership -- there were many good works behind the scenes," Parsley said.
Early on, in fact, Propstra's anonymity was a condition of his giving, Parsley said. Later, the magnitude of financial gifts from Propstra and his wife thrust them into the philanthropic spotlight, he said.
Before turning to philanthropy, Propstra forged his public profile in the restaurant business. After World War II, he assumed control of The Holland, a family-style restaurant his father founded, and built the business into a Vancouver landmark.
BURGERVILLES STRETCH ACROSS AREA
In 1961, he opened the first Burgerville USA restaurant in Vancouver. He steadily expanded the operation into a 39-restaurant chain with 1,600 employees, stretching from Centralia, Wash., to Albany, and from St. Helens to The Dalles.
Propstra became a local media star in the 1980s, when he appeared in two television commercials, disdainfully smacking and flinging a competitor's frozen burger patty in one of them.
"He did really well, but I'll tell you, it was a long day," said Pat Klinger, a Burgerville executive who knew Propstra for about 30 years and who helped produce the commercials.
As a young man, working in his father's restaurant business, Propstra became an accomplished baker and cook.
Perhaps drawing on that kitchen experience, Propstra earlier this year purchased a building at 1118 Main St. in downtown Vancouver for $800,000 and announced plans to build a bakery.
He planned to mass produce his own biscotti and distribute to Burgerville restaurants under the brand name "Georgio's."
"He wanted to make it sound Italian," Mears said, adding that the company had not decided whether to carry the product. Propstra had visited at least one Burgerville general manager on a sales mission.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, Don of San Francisco, and daughter, Kathryn P. Mears of Vancouver. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, and his son Kenneth.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St. Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorial donations be sent to Southwest Washington Medical Center's Expansion Project Fund, P.O. Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668.2
His obituary was published on 28 December 2004 in the The Oregonian, printed in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. His obituary stated:
Burgerville founder George Propstra dies
The restaurateur, working on a project the day before he died, gave millions to schools and civic projects in Clark County
VANCOUVER -- George Propstra, who founded the Burgerville chain and donated millions to schools and community causes, died early Sunday. He was 90.
Although he retired from the company more than a decade ago, Propstra never really left workaday life. He was regarded as the chain's best customer and toughest critic. The day before he died he was working out details for a bakery he planned to open next year in downtown Vancouver.
"This is what keeps me young," Propstra told a family member earlier this year.
Propstra rode the fast-food wave in the early 1960s but distinguished his chain by using only Northwest ingredients to support local suppliers. The belief in supporting his neighbors turned out to be good business, eventually causing Burgerville to be best known for its seasonal fruit milkshakes, Walla Walla sweet onion rings and Tillamook cheeseburgers.
In later years, he gave millions back to the community that made him wealthy.
Along with his wife, Carolyn, Propstra donated nearly $8.5 million to Vancouver School District projects, providing the financial support to build a community center, a public swimming-pool complex and a baseball field. He spent $3 million to help renovate the city of Vancouver's downtown Esther Short Park, including construction of a Community Square that features the Salmon Run Tower and glockenspiel.
Propstra also donated $250,000 so Southwest Washington Medical Center could built a clinic for needy women and children, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars to the I Have a Dream Foundation and smaller local charities.
"He always talked about how the community supported him and how he wouldn't have been the success he was without their support," said Tom Mears, Burgerville president and Propstra's son-in-law. "He had the opportunity to give back to the community in a big way, and he did."
Propstra was brought to Southwest Washington Medical Center on Friday. On Saturday he talked to a partner by phone about a business they planned to open, Mears said.
"His heart just stopped" Sunday, Mears said.
Propstra's health had been declining in recent years.
"George Propstra set the standard for giving back to one's community," Mayor Royce E. Pollard said in a statement.
REDEFINING CHARITABLE GIVING
Although many people knew about Propstra's giving, he was never comfortable in the spotlight, said those who worked closely with him.
"He's redefined charitable giving for our city," said Nancy Hales of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington. "George is our beloved citizen. He left a legacy that will last forever."
Propstra approached Hales to arrange several philanthropic projects about 15 years ago. He was direct and clear, she said.
"He decided it was his time, he was going to step up to the plate and respond to calls for help," Hales said. "And he's never turned back."
The seeds of Propstra's giving were planted in children.
Propstra retrofitted about 10 playgrounds, day-care centers and school classrooms used by handicapped children, Hales said. The price tag for each was about $30,000.
He quietly helped put many such projects over the top, said Jim Parsley, former Vancouver School District superintendent and Propstra's friend.
"The gifts he gave to this community -- besides his enormous vision and leadership -- there were many good works behind the scenes," Parsley said.
Early on, in fact, Propstra's anonymity was a condition of his giving, Parsley said. Later, the magnitude of financial gifts from Propstra and his wife thrust them into the philanthropic spotlight, he said.
Before turning to philanthropy, Propstra forged his public profile in the restaurant business. After World War II, he assumed control of The Holland, a family-style restaurant his father founded, and built the business into a Vancouver landmark.
BURGERVILLES STRETCH ACROSS AREA
In 1961, he opened the first Burgerville USA restaurant in Vancouver. He steadily expanded the operation into a 39-restaurant chain with 1,600 employees, stretching from Centralia, Wash., to Albany, and from St. Helens to The Dalles.
Propstra became a local media star in the 1980s, when he appeared in two television commercials, disdainfully smacking and flinging a competitor's frozen burger patty in one of them.
"He did really well, but I'll tell you, it was a long day," said Pat Klinger, a Burgerville executive who knew Propstra for about 30 years and who helped produce the commercials.
As a young man, working in his father's restaurant business, Propstra became an accomplished baker and cook.
Perhaps drawing on that kitchen experience, Propstra earlier this year purchased a building at 1118 Main St. in downtown Vancouver for $800,000 and announced plans to build a bakery.
He planned to mass produce his own biscotti and distribute to Burgerville restaurants under the brand name "Georgio's."
"He wanted to make it sound Italian," Mears said, adding that the company had not decided whether to carry the product. Propstra had visited at least one Burgerville general manager on a sales mission.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, Don of San Francisco, and daughter, Kathryn P. Mears of Vancouver. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret, and his son Kenneth.
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church, 4300 Main St. Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorial donations be sent to Southwest Washington Medical Center's Expansion Project Fund, P.O. Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668.2
Children of George Propstra and Margaret Kettenring
- Kathryn Ann Propstra2
- Kenneth George Propstra2,1 (23 Aug 1945 - 10 Mar 1964)
- Donald Lee Propstra2
Last Edited=19 Jan 2005
Citations
- [S555] Roger Fitch, "Family Group Sheets, Kettenring Family Changes, Corrections and Updates," supplied 4 January 2005 ([address for private use,] Omaha, Nebraska; USA).
- [S556] Allan Brettman, Burgerville founder George Propstra dies, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 28 December 2004. Original obituary available in print or online for 14 days from publication at: http://www.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregonian/. Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
- [S10] Betty Leigh (Kettenring) Shellenberger, "Family Group Sheets; Kettenring Family," supplied 1 August 2001 (15606 South Gilbert Road, #29, Chandler, Arizona 85225, USA).
- [S557] Roger Fitch, Omaha, Nebraska, USA [e-address for private use,] to Kevin L. Sholder, e-mail, 17 January 2005, "Genealogy; Kettenring," Sholder Research Files; privately held by Kevin Leonard Sholder, [(e-address) & street address for private use),] Dayton, Ohio, USA.