George E. Rembert was proud of his sporting accomplishment during football and track at Feitshan's and Southeast High Schools.  He then played football for the University of Illinois.  He was glued to the tv during track and field events, football and basketball games and never missed the triple crown horse races. Often times he would be watching one thing on tv and another on his phone.

George got his love of fishing from his father, Ernest and grandmother Rose.   He would bring home a bag of fish and throw it in the freezer to deal with later (which usually never came).   He had an eclectic taste in music from folk to rock and always said that reggae was best played loud.   His laid-back personality was offset by his unexpected sense of humor.

George began his career as a chef at the Ambassador Hotel in Chicago.   After moving back to Springfield, he worked at Bethesda Lutheran Homes and then became chef at Capitol Teletrack for close to 30 years.  George was a member of the International Chili Society and looked forward to chili cookoffs.  In 2014, he won the cookoff at the Illinois State Fair, which earned him a spot at the World Championship Chilli Cookoff in Las Vegas.  When the restaurant part of Capitol Teletrack closed, he cooked at HSHS and took on a rural paper route with the State Journal Register.

George's diabetic diagnosis led to kidney failure, and he started dialysis, which continued until his death. Ongoing medical issues forced George into retirement, all of which took a toll on his heart.   George passed quietly on May 6, 2026 at Prairie Village Healthcare Center in Jacksonville.

George stayed close with a core group of childhood friends – Wendell, Brick, Grover, and Jeff to name a few. In college, he and Bob started a lifetime friendship that George treasured.

George was born on April 14, 1950 to Ernest Rembert and Hattie L. Simon Rembert Hamilton.  He joined  sister Carolyn and later became big brother to Clifford.   Throughout the years, half and step siblings were added including Albert, Terri, Deborah, Richard, Carla, Marshelle, Carl, and Michael.   The family grew with nieces and nephews Tina, Duane, Ryan, Rianne, Tigress, Jerica, Isaiah, Malisha, Stephanie, Catania, Carl Jr., Chakyra, Adrian and Marqueta.

Geroge is survived by his wife of 36 years, Ann Marie; sons Adam (Katie) and Christian (Madison); grandchildren Marlie, Sophia and Daxton; sisters Carolyn, Terri, Carla and Deborah; brothers Albert, Carl and Richard; and many other in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Cremation rights were accorded, and a celebration of life will be held later, as well as private interment.

Donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.