Eugene Edward Wenger 1928 - 2010
ROBERTS, WENGER, BANE, MARTENS, PETERSEN, SERAGE
Posted By: N. Wagner (email)
Date: 3/12/2010 at 18:21:50
Eugene E. Wenger, 81, of Elgin died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at Good Samaritan Society - West Union, Iowa.
Memorial services with military rites were held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Illyria Community Church, rural Elgin. The Rev. Rick Johnson officiated.
A private family inurnment will take place at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin handled the arrangements.
Eugene Edward "Gene" Wenger was born Jan. 29, 1928, in Dr. Woods' home in Wadena. The son of Edward and Ina (Roberts) Wenger, he was baptized and confirmed at Illyria Community Church, where he became an active lifetime member.
Gene attended Illyria No. 1 country school and in 1945 graduated from Elgin High School. He enrolled at the University of Iowa in the fall of 1945 but later transferred to Upper Iowa University. He always said he really missed Anna (his future wife), and that Iowa City was just too far away!
In September 1946, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Japan, earning the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
After his enlistment, Gene returned to Upper Iowa University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1950.
On Aug. 1, 1948, Gene married Anna Bane at Illyria Community Church. The couple spent their first years together living in West Union while Gene continued his college studies.
After his graduation, Gene joined his father and uncle in their family farm operation. He continued to farm the family's Century Farm until 1977, incorporating one of the first contour farming applications in the county.
In 1977 Gene went to work for Farm Bureau Insurance as a career agent until 1994, when he became a production assistant. He fully retired from Farm Bureau in 2002.
Gene was active in several organizations, including Elgin American Legion Post 352 and the Elgin Lions Club. He also served on the Elgin Library Board and the Illyria Community Church Board.
Gene enjoyed watching all kinds of sports and was a dedicated fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Pittsburgh Pirates. He enjoyed golfing, had a great love for reading and traveled extensively. Visits to the farm by his children, grandchildren and great-grandson were also special moments for him.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents.
Those who were blessed for having shared in his life include Anna, his wife of 61 years; his three children, Loralee of Seattle, Wash., Melinda (Morris) of Goldfield, and Brian (Barbara) of Arlington, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Amy (Mike) Martens, Adam Petersen, Elizabeth Serage, Aaron Wenger, Landon Wenger, Logan Wenger; and a great-grandson, Alex Martens.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established honoring Gene Wenger (c/o Anna Wenger, 1189 Filmore Road, Elgin, IA 52141).
Fayette County Union - 26 January 2010
Fayette Obituaries maintained by Constance Diamond.
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