Obit: Gurney, Eugene Allen (1940 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gurney, Kauffman, Eddy, Kugel, Warren, Miller, Roberts, Hosking, Oldham, Holman, Rendmeister, Slenczka, Koppert

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 1/21/2015

Gurney, Eugene Allen (11 April 1940 - 18 January 2015) With Flag

Gene Gurney, 74, of Neillsville died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, (just three days after his mother died).

Eugene Allen Gurney was born April 11, 1940, in Curtiss, the son of William ‘George’ and Elma (Kauffman) Gurney. He attended Neillsville High School and then served in the United States National Guard from Aug. 10, 1957 to Dec. 15, 1975. He worked construction for Gaier’s and Tesmer’s and was united in marriage to Sue Eddy Oct. 18, 1980, in Neillsville. They lived in Hayward for a short time, where Gene owned Gurney Block and Concrete Construction. There he built the buildings surrounding the World Fishing Hall of Fame. When they returned to Neillsville, he worked at the Nelson Muffler Factory and for 15 years drove semi truck for Roehl Transport in Marshfield. He retired in 2002.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Neillsville and a member of the American Cribbage Congress. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, watching the Green Bay Packers, playing cards and woodworking. He made his family cabinets, nightstands and a gun cabinet. Most of all, though, Gene loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; five children, Chris (Dave) Kugel of Winona, MN, Jim (significant other, Deb) Gurney, Mary Jo (significant other, Joe) Warren of Loyal, Jeff (Stephanie) Gurney of Neillsville, and Nickie (Bill) Miller of Loyal, 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six siblings: Charles (Laura) Gurney of Sarasota, Fl, Louie (Diane) Gurney of Neillsville, Barbara (Steve) Roberts of Neillsville, William Gurney of Neillsville, Galen Gurney of Marshfield and Nancy (Arthur) Hosking of Sheboygan. Gene is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jerome Gurney and a sister, Lucille Oldham.

Funeral services for Gene will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Pastor Jacoba Koppert will officiate. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Gesche Funeral Home, and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at the United Church of Christ.

Honorary casketbearers are Joe Holman, Randy Rendmeister and Brody Miller. Casket bearers are: Adam Rendmeister, Nicholas Rendmeister, Tony Holman, Shawn Warren Jr., Brian Eddy and Alex Slenczka.

Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Gene’s family with funeral arrangements.