George Henry Northrup, 90, of Allegan, Ml passed away March 11th at the Wings Home in Allegan, Ml. He was born August 8, 1935 in Texas Twp, Kalamazoo County, Michigan at the home of his parents, Victor William Northrup and Dortha (Lipp) Northrup. George was only 12 years old when his father was killed in a motorcycle crash just south of Gladwin, Michigan and his mother re-married in 1948 and Bert Sutherby became the father figure in George's life. George graduated in 1953 from Bangor High School. In 1952 George joined the Michigan Army National Guard and served 3 years as a Corporal in the 126th Infantry, Tank Division as a tank mechanic and tank driver. He then joined the Michigan Army National Guard Reserves and served until 1960. He loved riding motorcycles and owned a 1955 Harley-Davidson for several years. In 1967 George married Arvema Lucinda (Hester) Harris with whom he shared 33 loving years of marriage until her passing in 2000. George was a truck driver starting his career driving for what was then called the Otsego Sanitation Service hauling milk. He then bought his own milk truck and hauled canned milk. In the early 1960's George and his brother Wesley teamed up and started Northrup Brothers Trucking. They owned 5 trucks hauling milk to several creameries including Otsego, Constantine, Wayland, and Burnips. George was one of the first milk haulers in the West Michigan area to switch from canned-milk to bulk tanker. In 1967 and 1968 he served as a Merchant Seaman in the United States Coast Guard aboard many ships on the Great Lakes. He began driving over-the-road hauling everything from refrigerated and frozen foods to flat-bed trailer, hauling steel and large machinery. He drove for McKee Trucking, Robinson Cartage Co., Key Line Freight and MTD Trucking Co., and he also drove tour busses for North Star Lines. George was a member of the Teamsters Union. His driving career took him all over the US and he finally stopped jamming gears in 2017. He loved driving truck and being independent not having to punch a clock in a factory while viewing the beautiful scenery through the windshield. In 1970 George and Arvema bought a 40-acre parcel in Cheshire Township and grew blueberries hauling the harvest to the Grand Junction Blueberry Exchange. He grew corn on the farm and then he began raising beef cattle and continued this venture until 2021 when he sold the farm. George was a religious man and attended many churches in the Allegan area throughout the years.

George is survived by his children, Sharon Benson, Kevin (Beth) Hartwick, Sue (Jim) Clawson, Sandy (Ron) Belden, Lorie Raab and Charles (Sheila) Harris; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arvema; his step-father, Bert Sutherby; along with his siblings and their spouses, Lila (Dan) Baux, Grace (Richard) Maskey, Edith (Richard) Schmidt, and Wesley (Joan) Northrup; his daughter, Shirley Howe; sons-in-law, David Benson and Timothy Raab; and his grandchildren, Seth Belden, Chuckie Howe, Elizabeth Hartwick and Jimmy Phelps.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 at Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Chaplin Greg Carlson Officiating. Procession and burial will follow at Lindsley Cemetery in Cheshire Township.

Contributions in memory of George can be made to The Wings Home in Allegan, 330 Linn St., Allegan, MI 49010.