The son of Franz Wilhelm "Frank" Willenburg and Mary Alice Kinder, George was born and raised on the family farm in Calhoun County, Illinois.

He was known for his teasing sense of humor. As a boy, George loved to offer his 2 youngest sisters, Tillie and Dena, a ride in a wagon that he would pull around the house. He would deliberately go so fast that he overturned the girls, but would continue on until he had circled the house and returned to the spot where his sisters had landed. At that point, he would feign great surprise, telling them that he had been sure they were still in the wagon. He then would sweet-talk them into giving him another chance, only to repeat the exact same performance.

George married Bertha Wagner on 12 Aug 1908 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Brussels, Illinois. They were the parents of 5 children, however, a son named Harry died in infancy.

In his early years, George worked as a farmer. The family moved to Peoria, Illinois around 1911, but returned to Calhoun County about 9 years later when he took a job working in a brickyard. 1920 found George employed at a clay mine in St. Louis County, Missouri.

After crossing the street on 25 Oct 1920, George died very suddenly of a heart attack at Evans and Howard Mine #5 on Walton Road in Overland, Missouri where he was a miner.

At the time of his death, George was 38 years, 11 months and 3 days old. He was buried on 28 Oct 1920 and was survived by his wife, Bertha, who passed away in 1975.

Children: 2 daughters, 3 sons.

Father of:
Viola Caroline Marie Willenburg Hattemer
Ottilie Emma "Tillie" Willenburg Wilschetz
Francis Charles "Frank" Willenburg
Harry Willenburg
Albert Harry Willenburg

George's siblings:
August F. Willenburg
Louis Jacob Willenburg
Christina Willenburg Hattemar
Bertha Augusta E. Willenburg Fredrickson
Albert Willenburg
Henry Willenburg
Mathilda Wilhelmina Willenburg Meseke
Dora Willenburg
Dena Charlotte Willenburg Brands