Dr. George R. Alger, Ph.D.

George was born to George and Marie (LeFleur) Alger on December 21, 1933, in Saginaw, Michigan.

He attended Midland High School and graduated in 1952. He was united in marriage to Elsmarie C. Ostlender of Calumet in 1955.

Mr. Alger served his country during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant from the U.S. Army in 1964.

George went on to receive degrees from Michigan Technological University (B.S. Civil Engineering, 1956), South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota (M.S., 1960), and Colorado State University (Ph.D., 1964). He was an associate professor of civil engineering at South Dakota State University until 1968. Dr. Alger then served as a tenured professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Michigan Technological University, retiring as professor emeritus in 2002.

Over the course of his long career, he loved teaching and pursuing research projects in water resources, hydrology, sedimentation, erosion, snow and ice engineering, structures, dam design, and mining. Dr. Alger served as a consultant on several matters of sedimentation, erosion, and the impacts of snow and ice on structures to federal agencies including CRREL, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Great Lakes Basin Commission.

George was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Elsmarie Alger from Calumet; his sons, Peter Alger (Nikki) of LaValle, Wisconsin, and Russell Alger (Monica) of Dollar Bay; and daughter, Christine Sloat (Michael) of Reedsburg, Wisconsin. He also leaves his step-brother, James Bakeman (Charlotte) of Midland, Michigan. George was the beloved grandfather (“Brown”) to ten grandchildren, 15 great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

A visitation will take place at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

George’s passion was fishing with his sons. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dr. Alger’s name to the Copper Country Walleye Association (CCWA). Donations can be made electronically by visiting http://bit.ly/2t6oOhB, or by check to CCWA, PO Box 541, Houghton, Michigan 49931.

Online condolences may be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.