Graveside services for George Uzelac, 90, of Carbon Cliff, IL, will be 11:00AM Wednesday at National Cemetery, Rock Island, IL. Anyone wishing to attend should be at the Van Hoe Funeral Home by 10:20AM. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Mr. Uzelac died Friday, September 2, 2011 at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Bettendorf, IA. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans or to a charity of choice. George was born April 30, 1921 in East Moline, IL, the son of Nikola and Margaret "Mega" Bukovac Uzelac. He married Rose Marie DeDoncker May 6, 1946 in Crown Point, IN. She died March 15, 2010. He retired from the US Army August 1, 1959, after 20 years of service. He served in the Philippines with the 31st Army Regiment when the Japanese invaded, having had six infantry engagements before being taken prisoner on April 6, 1942. He escaped from the Bataan Death March but was retaken prisoner when Corregidor Island fell on May 6. He remained a prisoner of war for three years four months and 21 days, living under the most inhumane conditions. He retreated with the Japanese forces all the way to the Japanese Mainland, surviving a voyage in the notorious Japanese "Slave Ships." When he was liberated by American troops in northern Japan, where he was forced to work in lead-zinc mines, he weighed 90 pounds (70 pounds lighter than his enlistment weight). After a seven-month hospital stay, Cpl. Uzelac re-enlisted and completed a 20 year military career, retiring as Master Sergeant. Among his post war military duties, he was an interpreter in Belgrade, Yugoslavia; a recruiter at the University of Arizona; was in charge of the construction of the first modern golf course in Korea; and his last assignment as a recruiter at Fort Bragg, CA. Over his career he received approximately 15 medals and citations for his service. Upon leaving the military, Mr. Uzelac and his family moved back to the Quad Cities, where he worked as a real estate salesman and as a security guard at the Rock Island Arsenal, retiring in 1982. He owned and operated Uzelac's Pool Hall during the 1960's and early 1970's. George was an avid golfer, pool player and sports enthusiast. He had been a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the local POW Chapter. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Stefan Danielsson of Carbon Cliff; sons and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Lavenia Uzelac of Carbon Cliff, Michael Uzelac of Rock Island; grandchildren, Cari of East Moline, Nickolas (wife, Lynn) of Carbon Cliff, Waylin of Cleveland, IL, Melissa of Bloomington, IL, Elizabeth of California USAF; great grandchildren, Makenzei, Nickolas Jr., Alex, Viahna, Elijah, Ayanna and Gianna. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and several brothers and sisters. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.

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