Aging Well Award – July 2025 Winner: George Szczepanik

At 75 years old, George Szczepanik is proof that growing older doesn’t mean slowing down—it can mean stepping into a whole new calling. After a long and successful career in medical sales, George didn't retire in the traditional sense. Instead, he found new purpose in a completely different line of work: funeral service.

Encouraged by his team at Heaton-Bowman Funeral Home in St. Joseph, George earned his funeral director’s license at the age of 72. With several longtime directors retiring, George was seen as someone with the compassion, presence, and steadiness to walk with families during one of life’s most difficult transitions. He’s now been faithfully serving in that role for nearly a decade.

“As long as I have a purpose in life, I can keep going.”

"It's been a very personally satisfying career,” George says. “I think one of my most satisfying ones—knowing that I'm helping people through a very difficult, emotional time... when they're really not in the shape to make decisions."

His grandchildren, Sam and Sofia Schoeberl, nominated him for this month’s Aging Well Award. “Regardless of his age, he is still serving the community in their time of need,” they wrote. “We are so proud of our Papa.”

George brings wisdom, calm, and heart to every family he serves. And he doesn’t let age define what he can do next. “I firmly believe in being active,” he says. “As long as I have a purpose in life, I can keep going.”

We’re proud to honor George Szczepanik as our July 2025 Aging Well Award winner. Thank you, George, for showing us what it means to live with purpose and serve others at every stage of life.