R. "Gene" E. Reutzel
June 1, 2010
Gene was born October 10, 1921 in Advance, Missouri, the youngest of 7 children, to Henry and Stella (Christian) Reutzel. He was brought up during the lean years when people had to make sacrifices, and his sacrifice was his formal education. He gained his degree in the school of experience. After the eighth grade, Gene ventured into service station work. From this he went to driving a truck. At the age of 16, he hired out as a welder's helper for his 2 brothers, Glen and Lester. From a helper, he moved into welding. After spending several years as a welder on pipelines, he went to work for Korshoj Construction Co. of Blair, NE.
With this background, Gene formed his own company in June of 1957. He chose Fremont, Nebraska as the headquarters for R.E. Reutzel Co., a pipeline construction company. He was able to get contracts for his company in many areas of the United States. He was a founder and his firm became a charter member of the Distribution Contractors Association. At the organizational meeting he was elected to board of directors, serving for 6 years and 1 year as the National President. Gene served on the Board of Trustees of the hospital in Fremont from 1978 to 2003 and had been vice chairman from 1981 until 2003. He had also served on the hospital's long range planning committee. He had served on the Board of Trustees of the J.F. Kennedy College in Wahoo and he had served on the Board of the Fremont Golf Club for 4 years, 2 of the years as president.
Gene has been a member of the Oakland Masonic Lodge No. 91 A.F. & A.M. of Oakland, Nebraska for 64 years. He also had been a member of the York Rite Masonic Bodies of Fremont, the Scottish Rite of Omaha, Tangier Shrine Center of Omaha, Fremont Shrine Club, and the Royal Order of Jester's Court 19 of Omaha, and was a Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska.
On January 27, 1942, Gene was married to Virginia Whetstone of Kinsley, Kansas. The had lived in Kinsley and in Oakland, Nebraska before moving to Fremont.
Survivors: daughter - Sandra and husband Evon Olson of Fremont
son - Barry Reutzel of Lincoln, NE
2 granddaughters - Shawn and husband Bruce Meister of Lincoln
Shelly and husband Ronnie Sandeen of Fremont
2 great grandchildren - Sam and Sydney Meister
2 sisters - Mary Tucker of North Carolina
Lucille Hilton of Arkansas
He was preceded in death by his wife on July 6, 1984, and by his brothers Charles, Lester, Willard, and Glen.
The funeral service will be 2 PM Monday (June 7th) at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel, Fremont. The committal will follow in Ridge Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Shrine Hospitals for Children, and to the Fremont Area Medical Center Foundation Endowment Fund. Visitation at the Ludvigsen Mortuary will be on Sunday (June 6th) from 2 to 6 PM, the family present from 4 to 6 PM.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Obituary Provided By:
1249 E. 23rd St.
Fremont, NE 68025
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