Gene was born in Waukesha in 1918. He lived on a farmette in the city of Waukesha for 50 years, first with his father and brother and later his wife & children. The family moved to a farm near Whitewater in 1969, where he enjoyed farming along with his career at the Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. At age 97, he and his wife moved to an apartment in Woodville.

Gene believed in service to the community and the environment. He was in the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s and served in the US Navy during WWII. He was an active member of St. Luke’s, First English, and Zion Lutheran churches, and especially enjoyed lighting and caring for the oil lamps at the Heart Prairie church. As a Boy Scout leader, he took pleasure in many campouts, projects, and adventures with his son. He always conveyed a sense of stewardship of the land and brightened the lives of those with whom he interacted.

Gene is survived by his wife of 74 years, Jane; children Carol (James) Mittl, Virginia (Wayne) Thorne, and Eugene (Barbara); grandchildren Keith Mittl, Brandon Thorne, Peter Thorne, Aurora Thorne, Andrew Ruenger and Daniel Ruenger; and great-grandchildren Morrison, Tyann, Trinity, Lilyen, and Mazzy Mittl, and Kaylin, Natalie, Myles, and Nora Ruenger.

Services will be held 1:30 pm Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Zion Lutheran Church, 221 Lockwood St., Woodville, WI, and later this spring, on a date to be determined, at Heart Prairie Lutheran Church, Whitewater, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the church are preferred.