George A. Sellner

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Sellner, George A. A founding member of the display and design firm Display-masters, Inc., retired Army Lt. Colonel, and long time resident of Hopkins, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park died on September 20, 2015 at age 96. Born in St. Peter, MN in 1918, he graduated from St. Peter High School and studied art and design at the Minneapolis School of Art before enlisting in the army in 1941. As a paratrooper in the 504th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, he saw action in North Africa, Italy and Sicily before returning stateside in 1945. He received the Bronze Star among other honors, and continued serving in the Army Reserves rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanding officer of the Old Guard Reserve unit at Ft. Snelling. Sellner married Jane Leone Bossen at Ft. Benning, GA in 1942. Following the war, they settled in Hopkins where they raised their family. In 1947, he and several colleagues started Displaymasters, Inc. which grew into a nationally known exhibit design firm. He retired in 1987, and continued to serve in an advisory capacity to the company. Active in community service, he served as public relations chairman for the American Red Cross local chapter, as well as public relations chairman for the Minneapolis Girl Scout Council. His long association with the Minneapolis Aquatennial culminated in his being named Senior Vice Commodore of the 1995 Aquatennial. George Sellner is survived by his daughters Mary (Howard) Cox, Louise (Ronn) Spencer and Kathryn Sellner; his son, Chris (Claudia) Sellner; grandchildren, Samantha and David Sellner; and sister-in-law, Mrs. Eugene ("Issie") Sellner. He is preceded in death by his wife Jane; his brothers Cletus, Eugene, Harold; and his sisters Myrtle Andrews, Lorraine Blake, Geneva Roberts, Dolores Craig. A memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, October 15 at 11:00 AM with a visitation one hour prior and luncheon following Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, St. John campus, 6 Interlachen Rd., Hopkins, MN. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to: American Red Cross MN Region, 1201 West River Parkway, Mpls, MN 55454 redcross.org/donate/ donation or Volunteers of America - MN and WI, Attn: Resource Development, 7625 Metro Blvd., Edina, MN 55439 voamnwi.org/…

Published on October 4, 2015