George C. Cowdrey, age 78; beloved father of Chrystal Zilinger, Troy (Cindy) Cowdrey and Brad (Chris) Cowdrey; dear grandfather of Dane (Madeline), Mitch and Chelsea Zilinger, Tyler, Ryan, and Katelyn Cowdrey; great-grandfather of Nolan and Cooper Zilinger; and friend to the mother of his children, Patricia. A private interment was held. In lieu of flowers, donations to George's favorite charity, Doctors Without Borders , would be appreciated. For information, Nelson Funeral Home 847-823-5122 or www.nelsonfunerals.com

In the twilight of his life, George enjoyed sharing activities with his Club 50 friends.

Driven by his generous spirit, George was an opportunistic, self-taught entrepreneur who was dedicated to solving problems and helping others achieve their professional dreams.

Above all, George was a devoted, loving father, grandfather, and family man. George was a world traveler who loved adventure ­-- from Papa New Guinea to Africa to his second home in Belize. He was loved by many but his proudest achievement was his large, close-knit family. George will be deeply missed by everyone who crossed his path.