George Bieber, the grandfather of pop star Justin Bieber, died on February 26, 2021, at the age of 69. He was the father of Jeremy Bieber, Justin’s dad, and had three other children: Rob, Brad, and Bonnie. He was also a demolition contractor who suffered from a work-related back injury that left him disabled. But what was the cause of his death and how did it affect his famous grandson? Here are some details about George Bieber’s life and demise.
A Work-Related Injury
According to his obituary, George Bieber was born on September 9, 1951, in Mitchell, Ontario. He was the son of Hiram and Ellen Bieber, and had a brother, Bill, and a sister, Marg. He married Kathy Bieber and had four children with her. He worked as a demolition contractor until he was injured on the job and became disabled. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family and friends.
A Strained Relationship with Justin
George Bieber had a strained relationship with his grandson, Justin, who rose to fame as a teenage sensation in the late 2000s. In 2013, George Bieber told the New York Daily News that Justin never called him and that he felt neglected by him. He also said that he was jealous of Justin’s maternal grandparents, Diane and Bruce Dale, who received lavish gifts and attention from the singer. He said:
“He never calls us, and now I sometimes think he doesn’t care. For them, nothing seems to be too much trouble, and he buys them new houses, cars, luxury holidays, anything they want. But for us, nothing. He will always be my grandson and I am, and will always be, so proud of him. It’s just sad he is not a bigger part of our life. But I guess he is just too busy right now.”
Justin Bieber did not publicly comment on his grandfather’s remarks, but he did visit him in 2012, when he was hospitalized for a broken back. He also posted a picture of him and his grandfather on Instagram in 2013, with the caption: “Love u Grampa”.
A Natural Cause of Death
George Bieber passed away on February 26, 2021, at the Stratford General Hospital. His obituary did not specify the cause of his death, but it said that he died of natural causes. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was cremated and a private family service was held. His obituary also said:
“George was a kind and gentle soul who loved his family dearly. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
Justin Bieber paid tribute to his grandfather on his Instagram story, where he posted a picture of him and wrote: “Rest in peace Grampa. You will be missed by so many”. He also dedicated his song “Ghost” from his album Justice to his grandfather, where he sings about missing someone who is no longer alive. He said in an interview:
“I think, you know, losing someone you love is obviously one of the hardest things that you can go through. And I think that the way you heal from that is by remembering them, honoring them, and keeping them close to you.”
