Eugene Marx Kohnen 1925-2010

KOHNEN, LUTZKE KROEGER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/21/2011 at 19:49:13

Sioux City Journal
3 November 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Eugene Marx Kohnen, 85, of Sioux City died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Kevin Lee officiating. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Alvord, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent online to www.christysmith.com.

Gene was born Aug. 15, 1925, in Doon, Iowa, to Charles and Hazel (Lutzke) Kohnen. He graduated from Doon Public School in 1943. On Nov. 12, 1943, Gene was sworn into the U.S. Navy to serve during World War II. He was assigned to the USS Izard-DD589. He served until January 1946. In 1950, he graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in electrical engineering. He did carpentry work in the Doon area until 1955, when he began a career in electrical engineering.

On Sept. 3, 1961, he married Melva Kroeger in Alvord, Iowa. They began their life of 49 years together in Audubon, Iowa. In 1962, they moved to Sioux City, where he began his 35 years of service with Iowa Public Service.

Gene was an active member of the Sioux City Engineers Club, holding many offices. He was a member of Morningside Lutheran Church, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and American Legion. He attended many Navy reunions of the USS Izard crew and hosted the 1994 reunion in Sioux City. There were many visits to his daughter and her family on the East Coast, a highlight of these visits was the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Survivors include his wife, Melva; daughter, Deb (Kohnen) and her husband, Tony and two grandchildren, Lindsey and Jason of Wake Forest, N.C.; and several nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gilbert.

Memorials may be directed to the Sioux City Engineers Club scholarship fund.