BLAIRSTOWN:  Eugene R. "Gene" DeNeve, age 78, died Thursday, October 12, 2023, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Van Horne, with Rev.Jacob Dunne  as Concelebrant.  Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Monday at the Blairstown Community Building Gym in Blairstown.  A memorial fund has been established.

Gene was born on  November 20, 1944, in Belle Plaine, the son of Herman and Clara (Baetsle) DeNeve.  Gene graduated from Van Horne High School with the class of 1963.  On August 22, 1964, he was united in marriage to Becky Kimmich at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Van Horne.

Gene worked for F.S. for 37 years, driving the fuel truck.  He had served with the Van Horne Volunteer Fire Department and was a long-time, active member at St. John Catholic Church.  He enjoyed volunteering with Mission of Hope.  Gene had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed teasing friends and family alike.  You always wanted to be careful accepting any hot-wings from Gene.  He loved a good time, especially bowling, Rolle Bolle, Cards and games of any kind.  He dearly loved his large family.

Survivors include his wife Becky; children, Trent (Wendy) DeNeve, Mindy (Andy) Wallace, Jodi (Steve) Metz, Cory (Jana) DeNeve, Kami (Roger) Thenhaus, and Kandee (Adam) Kaiser; grandchildren, Kaylee (Cris), Keaton (MaKayla), Kody (Emily), Alyssa (Andrew), Amber (Devon), Will, Charlie, Jory (Megan), Ashley (Ethan), Tristan (Liz), Emma (Dylan), Ariel (Jeff), Crystal, Seth, Ethan, Kennedy, Morgan, Scott (Kayla), Kourtney (Avery), Ethan (Dawn), Jacob, Laurynn, Connor; several great-grandchildren; sister, JoAnn McFarland; sister-in-law Shirley DeNeve; several special nieces and nephews, and dear friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Lanny; sister, Patricia Flickinger; and brother, Fred DeNeve.  "Stay in the Buggy!"

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com