Gene VanAuken 1907 - 2005

ONEAL, VANAUKEN, LAPORA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/14/2019 at 14:23:50

Sioux City Journal
28 October 2005

SALIX, Iowa -- Gene VanAuken, 98, of Salix passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa, with Dr. Emery Killian officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Gene was born Aug. 3, 1907, in Hartington, Neb., the son of James Henry and Mamie (O'Neal) VanAuken. At the age of four, he moved with his family to a farm in Salix, where he farmed until his retirement.

He married Helen Lapora in December 1928, in Elk Point, S.D. They resided on the family farm in Salix, where they raised their family. Helen passed away in July 1991, after 63 years of marriage. He entered Pleasant View Care Center in February 2002.

Survivors include his sons and their wives, Lyle and Jan of Grayslake, Ill., Larry and Shirley of Salix, Clifford "Kip" and Deb of Grinnell, Iowa, Dennis and Karen of Sioux City and Don and Sheila of Colleyville, Texas; two daughters-in-law, Norma VanAuken of Hoffman Estates, Ill., and Elaine (VanAuken) Echtinaw of Martensdale, Iowa; 19 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and four sisters-in-law, Zona VanAuken of Mesa, Ariz., Katherine Oleson of Le Mars, Iowa, Fern Lapora of Sioux City and Eleanore Lapora of Divide, Colo.

In addition to his wife, he was also preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Richard and Eugene "Gene"; and all of his brothers and sisters.