Gene R. Hardy (2021)
BREHMER, CASH, CHRISTENSEN, HARDY, JENNINGS, JONES, LARSEN, LUTHER, MILLS, MICHALSKI, PETRO, SCHROEDER, SMITH, WODNIAK
Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:23
Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Sunday, January 31, 2021Gene R. Hardy
Panora - Gene R. Hardy, 93, of Panora passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Thursday, January 21, 2021. Gene was born September 23, 1927, to Harry Wm. and Nettie H. Larsen Hardy of Hampton, Iowa. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1945 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, serving from 1945 to 1948.
Following his honorable discharge from the service Gene attended Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls and Iowa State University, graduating in 1953 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He started his engineering career as Assistant County Engineer for Madison County in Winterset, Iowa, until 1962, when he assumed the role as Dallas County Engineer in Adel, Iowa. On January 12, 1973, Gene married Janet Jones Brehmer. They continued living in Adel until Gene's retirement in 1989, after his 27 years of service as Dallas County Engineer.
After retirement, Gene and his wife Jan moved to Lake Panorama, where he continued to use his expertise as a private property surveyor, a consultant for the Guthrie County Secondary Roads Department, and for Iowa Concrete Paving Association. Throughout his career, Gene was recognized for many professional achievements: most notably the 1973 Greene County Overlay Project, which was the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of fibrous concrete as an overlay in Federal Highway construction history.
Gene was community and civic minded, serving on numerous boards, including terms on both the Adel Community School board and the Adel City Council. He was also a member of several organizations, including Lions Club International, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as many professional associations.
Gene was a popular and gregarious man with a big heart, a ready smile, and a delightfully witty sense of humor. He dearly loved his family and his beloved dog Steve. He loved living at the lake, playing cribbage, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones. He was an avid golfer, having accomplished the amazing feat of 5 holes-in-one in his lifetime!
Gene is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Jan; his four children from his first marriage to Jean Ann: Steve (Kate) Hardy of Ames, Nancy Hardy Jennings of West Des Moines, Jim (Ryan) Hardy of West Des Moines, and Ann (Dr. Tom) Wodniak of West Des Moines; and his stepchildren: Deborah (Mitch) Christensen of Humboldt and Julie Brehmer Schroeder of Coon Rapids.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Kurt (Dawn) Luther of Arizona, Kari Luther of Arizona, Amanda Hardy of Ames, Debi (Mike) Mills of Ames, Chrissy (Trent) Michalski of Earlham, Andrea (Mike) Petro of Delaware, Taylor (Rebekah) Jennings of Missouri, Christopher Wodniak of California, Natalie Wodniak of Virginia, Daly Hardy of West Des Moines, and Reese Hardy of West Des Moines; step-grandchildren: Justin (Abby) James of Bayard, Cheyne (Sarah) Christensen of Manson, Aaron (Larry) Christensen of Ankeny, Michelle (Jeremy) Smith of Dexter, Brandon (Kalea) Brehmer of Ankeny, Zach (Claire) Brehmer of Waukee, Brady (Amanda) Brehmer of Carroll, and Trevor (Taylor) Brehmer of Breda; as well as twenty-eight great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Virgie Belle, Betty, and Fern; daughter Cindy Hardy Luther Cash of Arizona, and stepson Michael Brehmer of Panora.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at Hospice of the Midwest for their wonderful care and compassion for Gene and our family after he suffered complications from a fall.
At Gene's request, no service will be held at this time. Cremated remains will be interred at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. The family is planning a celebration of life at a later date.
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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