An Elgin resident since 1977, George E. Elsener, 92, discovered golf late in life and was still walking nine holes a day into his mid-80s, his son Jim said. Mr. Elsener, known as “Whitie” to his family and friends, died Saturday, March 6, in Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. His health had been failing in recent years. Born in Harvey and raised in Chicago, he graduated from Austin High School in 1931, marrying his high school sweetheart, Helen, in 1938. He began working as a floor-covering salesman in the carpet room in Marshall Field’s in Chicago. During World War II he worked at the Douglas Aircraft Co. plant at O’Hare Airport. He and his family later moved to Michigan for 16 years, where he worked for Mohawk Carpet in Battle Creek. For seven of those years, he and a brother-in-law ran a John Deere & Co. dealership in Jonesville. While there, he was on the Village Board and a church deacon. “He adapted real well for a guy from the West Side of Chicago,” his son said. The family returned to Chicago in 1962, and Mr. Elsener worked another 10 years as a Midwest salesman for the floor covering division of Whirlpool Corp. After retiring, he was a starter at Hilldale Golf Course in Hoffman Estates, until a broken hip in 1986 caused him to slow down. In addition to his wife and son, survivors include another son, George, and five grandchildren. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin.
