Former POW was a man you could count on
By Bobby Kerlik
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
George Bischoff grew up during the Depression, survived one of the most notorious Nazi prisoner-of-war camps during World War II and returned home, often working two jobs to support his family.
"My Dad was a terribly hard-working fellow," said his son, Jeff Bischoff. "Nonetheless, he taught me all the things that dads teach their sons: how to play golf, bowl, fish, everything. And he had incredible patience. I don't know if he ever lost his temper. He was just a nice guy."
George C. Bischoff, 88, of West Deer, formerly of Ross and Shaler, died Saturday, May 20, 2006, in the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Aspinwall.
After growing up in Crafton Heights and graduating from Langley High School, Mr. Bischoff was drafted into the Army. Shortly after being drafted, he married Lois Ley on Aug. 31, 1941. They had met at a roller rink and dated about a year before marriage.
He was stationed at several bases in the United States before he was sent to Europe. He was taken prisoner by the Nazis during the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Bischoff lost more than 60 pounds during his five months in captivity in Stalag IX-B, a POW camp in Bad Orb, Germany, whose prisoners included up to 4,700 American infantrymen, many captured in the Battle of the Bulge.
Living conditions were cramped, and Mr. Bischoff was often given potato peelings and had to share a slice of bread with other prisoners, Mrs. Bischoff said.
"I didn't know if he was alive," Mrs. Bischoff said. "They said he was MIA at first. It was really scary. I found out he was alive at the end of the war. It was quite a relief."
Mr. Bischoff earned several medals, including three Bronze Stars, she said.
After returning from the war, Mr. Bischoff was a furniture salesman for many years at Gimbels and later at Buyers Mart. He also worked as a milkman in the day before an evening shift at Gimbels.
In addition to keeping a garden, Mr. Bischoff enjoyed golf and was a good bowler, once rolling a perfect 300 game.
"We bowled a lot together in couples leagues," Mrs. Bischoff said. "He used to carry the card in his wallet all the time that said he bowled a 300 game."
Mr. Bischoff was also a handyman around the house. He added a patio onto his home and worked on the car himself.
"Everything he did, he did right," Jeff Bischoff said. "He was an exceptional dad, husband and neighbor. Everyone counted on him. You knew he was going to support you no matter what and he wasn't going to get mad."
Mr. Bischoff is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois Bischoff, of West Deer; a son, Jeff Bischoff of Alexandria, Va.; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Dale Bischoff.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Herbert R. King Jr. Funeral Home Inc., 2841 Woodland Circle, Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Catherine of Sweden Roman Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will be in Christ Our Redeemer (North Side Catholic) Cemetery.
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