Gene Fell, 82, La Crosse, died peacefully on Sept. 14, 2013, at Bethany St. Joseph’s Nursing Home, surrounded by his family after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born on Jan. 6, 1931, in Burlington, to that late Warren and Evelyn (Merrill) Fell. He attended schools in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School in 1949. He was known as an outstanding athlete especially basketball and football and was voted one of the best running backs in school history. He left Burlington to attend the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
On Oct. 21, 1950, he married his high school girlfriend, Dorothy Jean Krueger. They made La Crosse their home for the next 63 years. He began a long career as a delivery milkman with the Borden company. After 25 years, he was a custodian for the La Crosse City Library system, retiring in 1993. Delivering milk door-to-door and working at the libraries, Gene became a familiar and friendly face to many people in the La Crosse area. Together, Gene and Dorothy attended many Aquinas High School sporting events even after their children graduated. They were often seen bird watching and walking along the river.
He continued to be an avid athlete in many sports while in La Crosse, including golf, tennis, pitching horseshoes, bowling, softball and ice-skating. He loved watching all sports on TV throughout his life.
His family holds dear memories of family camping trips to Yellowstone, Glacier, Badlands as well as long driving trips to the east coast to visit relatives. Later, they traveled abroad to England, Spain, Portugal and Italy, often with Dorothy’s sister Rosemary and her husband, Jack.
He was a kind, wise, gentle and outgoing man who will be greatly missed by all who met him along the way.
Survivors include his wife; children, Enid (Jerry) Heberlein, Marshfield Mass., Tim (Caren Schurhammer) Fell, Faribault, Minn., Carole (David) Schoonover, La Crosse, Sue (Brian) Kennedy, Madison, and Maggie (Bob) Braun, La Crosse; grandchildren, Emily (Eric Sevigny), Joel (Janine), and Martha (Paul Jacobs); Stephanie and Brian Fell; Jennie (Jeremy Melde), Katie (Steve Barnes) and Amanda Schoonover; Hannah and Carina Braun; great-grandchildren, Jake, Max and Emma Heberlein, Neil and Alec Sevigny, Ethan and Tanner Melde, Clara, Mira, and Mason Barnes; brothers, Darrell (Shirley) Fell, Donald (Shirley) Fell; nieces; nephews; and his lifelong friend, Jim Dexter.
He was further preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Mary Jane Fell; sister-in-law, Cora Fell; brothers-in-law, Jack Geraghty, Phil Krueger and Bob Krueger.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the kind, compassionate care he received from the staff at Bethany St. Josephs. Memorials may be given to the La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse Aquinas High School or Holy Trinity Parish in La Crosse.
A funeral Mass is Friday, Sept. 20, at 10:30 a.m., in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1333 S. 13th St., La Crosse. The Rev. Rick Roberts will celebrate with burial rites at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 4-7 p.m., on Thursday at the Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse. Family and friends may also call from 9:30 a.m., until the time of Mass in the church on Friday.
Well-wishers can visit www.blaschkeschneider.com.
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