Eugene "Gene" Alexander, age 90, of Yankton, SD passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, January 22, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be at approximately 3:30 PM, on Friday, at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, Iowa with military honors provided by the George E. Mudge American Legion Post 324 and William F. Allard VFW Post 7373 of Sibley. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Thursday, January 21 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton and will continue one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the church.
Gene was born on June 9, 1925 to Emerson B. and Freda (Winkel) Alexander near Ashton, Iowa. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. In 1968 he earned a Master of Education Degree from South Dakota State University.
Gene enlisted in the Army while still in high school during WWII. After graduation, he served as a combat infantryman with the 34th Infantry Division during the North Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign in northern Italy. Gene was awarded the Bronze Star medal during mountain warfare against German forces during the winter of 1945. After WWII ended, Gene was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and transferred to the 88th Division where he helped defend the Italian border against Yugoslavian communist forces during the beginning of the Cold War. Gene was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in the Air Force as a small arms instructor and gunnery instructor for B-29 bomber crews. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war, received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant, and retired at the rank of Major after 26 years of military service.
All of Gene's civilian occupations were related to farming, including manager of the Osceola County Fair, and as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program for World War II and Korean War Veterans at Sibley, Iowa. Gene was a county extension agent with Iowa State University at Primghar, Iowa. His final career was with the Farm Credit System at the Production Credit Association in Yankton, SD. Gene also owned and managed a successful farm management service in Iowa for nearly fifty years.
Gene was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers, 34th Division, 88th Division, and the Iowa State Alumni Associations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Sibley, Iowa and the Consistory at Yankton, SD. He was a long-time active member of the Yankton Lions Club where he held several offices, including that of President and Treasurer. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Yankton, and served on several boards over the years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Gene enjoyed the outdoors - hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, backpacking and visiting with farmers.
Gene married Marlys Joy Dorman on June 22, 1958 in Bismarck, ND. Gene and Marlys moved to a farmstead west of Yankton in 1989 where they enjoyed watching wildlife and planting trees, native grass and wild flowers.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Michele Mooney) Alexander and granddaughter, Meghan Alexander of Columbia, Missouri and son, Glenn Alexander of Winnemucca, Nevada. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlys on January 18, 2003; his brother, Ray Alexander of Sibley, and his sister, Ruth Dwyer of Los Angeles.
The family would like to thank the staff at Majestic Bluffs and Sister James Care Center for the care and friendship they showed Gene during his final years.
Wintez & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Yankton, SD
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, January 22, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be at approximately 3:30 PM, on Friday, at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, Iowa with military honors provided by the George E. Mudge American Legion Post 324 and William F. Allard VFW Post 7373 of Sibley. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Thursday, January 21 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton and will continue one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the church.
Gene was born on June 9, 1925 to Emerson B. and Freda (Winkel) Alexander near Ashton, Iowa. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. In 1968 he earned a Master of Education Degree from South Dakota State University.
Gene enlisted in the Army while still in high school during WWII. After graduation, he served as a combat infantryman with the 34th Infantry Division during the North Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign in northern Italy. Gene was awarded the Bronze Star medal during mountain warfare against German forces during the winter of 1945. After WWII ended, Gene was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and transferred to the 88th Division where he helped defend the Italian border against Yugoslavian communist forces during the beginning of the Cold War. Gene was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in the Air Force as a small arms instructor and gunnery instructor for B-29 bomber crews. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war, received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant, and retired at the rank of Major after 26 years of military service.
All of Gene's civilian occupations were related to farming, including manager of the Osceola County Fair, and as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program for World War II and Korean War Veterans at Sibley, Iowa. Gene was a county extension agent with Iowa State University at Primghar, Iowa. His final career was with the Farm Credit System at the Production Credit Association in Yankton, SD. Gene also owned and managed a successful farm management service in Iowa for nearly fifty years.
Gene was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers, 34th Division, 88th Division, and the Iowa State Alumni Associations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Sibley, Iowa and the Consistory at Yankton, SD. He was a long-time active member of the Yankton Lions Club where he held several offices, including that of President and Treasurer. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Yankton, and served on several boards over the years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Gene enjoyed the outdoors - hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, backpacking and visiting with farmers.
Gene married Marlys Joy Dorman on June 22, 1958 in Bismarck, ND. Gene and Marlys moved to a farmstead west of Yankton in 1989 where they enjoyed watching wildlife and planting trees, native grass and wild flowers.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Michele Mooney) Alexander and granddaughter, Meghan Alexander of Columbia, Missouri and son, Glenn Alexander of Winnemucca, Nevada. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlys on January 18, 2003; his brother, Ray Alexander of Sibley, and his sister, Ruth Dwyer of Los Angeles.
The family would like to thank the staff at Majestic Bluffs and Sister James Care Center for the care and friendship they showed Gene during his final years.
Wintez & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Yankton, SD
Eugene "Gene" Alexander, age 90, of Yankton, SD passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, January 22, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be at approximately 3:30 PM, on Friday, at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, Iowa with military honors provided by the George E. Mudge American Legion Post 324 and William F. Allard VFW Post 7373 of Sibley. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Thursday, January 21 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton and will continue one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the church.
Gene was born on June 9, 1925 to Emerson B. and Freda (Winkel) Alexander near Ashton, Iowa. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. In 1968 he earned a Master of Education Degree from South Dakota State University.
Gene enlisted in the Army while still in high school during WWII. After graduation, he served as a combat infantryman with the 34th Infantry Division during the North Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign in northern Italy. Gene was awarded the Bronze Star medal during mountain warfare against German forces during the winter of 1945. After WWII ended, Gene was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and transferred to the 88th Division where he helped defend the Italian border against Yugoslavian communist forces during the beginning of the Cold War. Gene was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in the Air Force as a small arms instructor and gunnery instructor for B-29 bomber crews. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war, received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant, and retired at the rank of Major after 26 years of military service.
All of Gene's civilian occupations were related to farming, including manager of the Osceola County Fair, and as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program for World War II and Korean War Veterans at Sibley, Iowa. Gene was a county extension agent with Iowa State University at Primghar, Iowa. His final career was with the Farm Credit System at the Production Credit Association in Yankton, SD. Gene also owned and managed a successful farm management service in Iowa for nearly fifty years.
Gene was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers, 34th Division, 88th Division, and the Iowa State Alumni Associations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Sibley, Iowa and the Consistory at Yankton, SD. He was a long-time active member of the Yankton Lions Club where he held several offices, including that of President and Treasurer. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Yankton, and served on several boards over the years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Gene enjoyed the outdoors - hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, backpacking and visiting with farmers.
Gene married Marlys Joy Dorman on June 22, 1958 in Bismarck, ND. Gene and Marlys moved to a farmstead west of Yankton in 1989 where they enjoyed watching wildlife and planting trees, native grass and wild flowers.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Michele Mooney) Alexander and granddaughter, Meghan Alexander of Columbia, Missouri and son, Glenn Alexander of Winnemucca, Nevada. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlys on January 18, 2003; his brother, Ray Alexander of Sibley, and his sister, Ruth Dwyer of Los Angeles.
The family would like to thank the staff at Majestic Bluffs and Sister James Care Center for the care and friendship they showed Gene during his final years.
Wintez & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Yankton, SD
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 AM, on Friday, January 22, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be at approximately 3:30 PM, on Friday, at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, Iowa with military honors provided by the George E. Mudge American Legion Post 324 and William F. Allard VFW Post 7373 of Sibley. Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, on Thursday, January 21 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton and will continue one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the church.
Gene was born on June 9, 1925 to Emerson B. and Freda (Winkel) Alexander near Ashton, Iowa. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. In 1968 he earned a Master of Education Degree from South Dakota State University.
Gene enlisted in the Army while still in high school during WWII. After graduation, he served as a combat infantryman with the 34th Infantry Division during the North Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign in northern Italy. Gene was awarded the Bronze Star medal during mountain warfare against German forces during the winter of 1945. After WWII ended, Gene was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and transferred to the 88th Division where he helped defend the Italian border against Yugoslavian communist forces during the beginning of the Cold War. Gene was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in the Air Force as a small arms instructor and gunnery instructor for B-29 bomber crews. He remained in the Air Force Reserves after the war, received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant, and retired at the rank of Major after 26 years of military service.
All of Gene's civilian occupations were related to farming, including manager of the Osceola County Fair, and as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program for World War II and Korean War Veterans at Sibley, Iowa. Gene was a county extension agent with Iowa State University at Primghar, Iowa. His final career was with the Farm Credit System at the Production Credit Association in Yankton, SD. Gene also owned and managed a successful farm management service in Iowa for nearly fifty years.
Gene was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW, Reserve Officers, 34th Division, 88th Division, and the Iowa State Alumni Associations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Sibley, Iowa and the Consistory at Yankton, SD. He was a long-time active member of the Yankton Lions Club where he held several offices, including that of President and Treasurer. He was a member of the Methodist Church at Yankton, and served on several boards over the years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Gene enjoyed the outdoors - hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, backpacking and visiting with farmers.
Gene married Marlys Joy Dorman on June 22, 1958 in Bismarck, ND. Gene and Marlys moved to a farmstead west of Yankton in 1989 where they enjoyed watching wildlife and planting trees, native grass and wild flowers.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Michele Mooney) Alexander and granddaughter, Meghan Alexander of Columbia, Missouri and son, Glenn Alexander of Winnemucca, Nevada. He leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlys on January 18, 2003; his brother, Ray Alexander of Sibley, and his sister, Ruth Dwyer of Los Angeles.
The family would like to thank the staff at Majestic Bluffs and Sister James Care Center for the care and friendship they showed Gene during his final years.
Wintez & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Yankton, SD
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