Gene Elmer York
April 13, 1942 — April 24, 2023
Gene Elmer York, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away after complications of a stroke at his home on Monday, April 24, 2023, surrounded by his family. He never lost his sense of humor even to the end. In agreement with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday April 29, 2023, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 810 Kimball Avenue, in Waterloo, Iowa, where the family will greet friends and family one hour prior to the service. A committal service is being planned later next month for Memorial Day Weekend, at Goodhue Lutheran Church Cemetery, in Florence, South Dakota.
Gene was born on April 13, 1942, in Watertown, South Dakota, the first boy of seven children to Elmer DeWayne and Evelyn Myrtle (Hilts) York. He grew up on a farm outside of Florence, South Dakota. Gene was a 1960 graduate of Florence High School. After high school, he joined the United States Navy and honorably served for four years, stationed at Cecil Naval Station in Florida and on the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier. Gene met his high school sweetheart and future bride, Gloria Faye Haugen at a 4th of July picnic at Lake Kampeska, and the rest was history. They were united in marriage on April 27, 1963, at Goodhue Lutheran Church, in Florence, SD. To this union, two children were born. Gene and Gloria would have been married sixty years on Thursday, this week.
Gene was employed as a TV repairman and electronics tech for Area Education Agency 7, until retiring in 2008. He and Gloria lived life to the fullest traveling 48 states and taking many friends along for hiking and motorcycling adventures. Gene’s spirit was adventurous. In retirement, He was a skilled woodworker and home improvement guy for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Gene delighted spending time with his grandchildren and going to all their activities. Gene was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waterloo and their Young Couples Club.
Gene is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 60 years, Gloria York; two children, Bonnie (Russell) Gerst and Mike (Stacy) York; grandchildren, Ashley (Trevor) Springer, Zachary (Katharine) Gerst, Ethan York (Rachel Daniels), Hank Gerst, Gregory Gerst and Tomina Gerst; three sisters, Karen (Wayne) Murphy, Shirley Sandridge, and Marjory Snyder; one brother, DeWayne (Janet) York; one brother-in-law, Dean Purintun; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Patricia Murphy and Darlene Purintun; one nephew, Douglas York; one sister-in-law, Denise York; and two brothers-in-law, Harry Snyder and Dwight Sandridge.
Memorials in Gene’s memory may be made to the Goodhue Lutheran Church, in Florence.
Gene was born on April 13, 1942, in Watertown, South Dakota, the first boy of seven children to Elmer DeWayne and Evelyn Myrtle (Hilts) York. He grew up on a farm outside of Florence, South Dakota. Gene was a 1960 graduate of Florence High School. After high school, he joined the United States Navy and honorably served for four years, stationed at Cecil Naval Station in Florida and on the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier. Gene met his high school sweetheart and future bride, Gloria Faye Haugen at a 4th of July picnic at Lake Kampeska, and the rest was history. They were united in marriage on April 27, 1963, at Goodhue Lutheran Church, in Florence, SD. To this union, two children were born. Gene and Gloria would have been married sixty years on Thursday, this week.
Gene was employed as a TV repairman and electronics tech for Area Education Agency 7, until retiring in 2008. He and Gloria lived life to the fullest traveling 48 states and taking many friends along for hiking and motorcycling adventures. Gene’s spirit was adventurous. In retirement, He was a skilled woodworker and home improvement guy for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Gene delighted spending time with his grandchildren and going to all their activities. Gene was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waterloo and their Young Couples Club.
Gene is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of nearly 60 years, Gloria York; two children, Bonnie (Russell) Gerst and Mike (Stacy) York; grandchildren, Ashley (Trevor) Springer, Zachary (Katharine) Gerst, Ethan York (Rachel Daniels), Hank Gerst, Gregory Gerst and Tomina Gerst; three sisters, Karen (Wayne) Murphy, Shirley Sandridge, and Marjory Snyder; one brother, DeWayne (Janet) York; one brother-in-law, Dean Purintun; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Patricia Murphy and Darlene Purintun; one nephew, Douglas York; one sister-in-law, Denise York; and two brothers-in-law, Harry Snyder and Dwight Sandridge.
Memorials in Gene’s memory may be made to the Goodhue Lutheran Church, in Florence.
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