Eugene Stender

Eugene Stender passed away on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at the age of 98.

Gene was born in Welby, Utah, on June 11, 1916, to Maud Stender. When Gene was about a year old, his mother brought him back to Joliet, where he spent his life farming the land his grandfather homesteaded.

Gene graduated from Joliet High School in 1935 and, on Feb. 19, 1941, he married the love of his life, Ruth Stene, who sat in the desk behind him all through their school years. They spent 62 years together, living 58 of those years on the Newton family farm, retiring and moving to Joliet in 1999. They had one daughter.

Gene was a star basketball and baseball player, and continued playing until he was 40-plus years old. He loved sports and was an avid fan of the Joliet High School sports programs. He helped start the Sr. J-Club and was the only secretary of the club until hearing loss forced his resignation. He was thrilled when his grandchildren all played basketball for Joliet, and he very seldom missed a game.

The Masonic Lodge was a very large part of his life. He joined as a young man and recently received his 75-year pin. He was very active in Carbon Lodge #65, where he held all the offices at least once, and was their secretary for many years. He also belonged to Aloha Chapter #41 Order of Eastern Star, and was Worthy Patron several times over the years. He was a member of the Joliet Lutheran Church.

Gene loved to hunt and fish, and spent most mornings after retirement at the local coffee shop with his buddies before they went fishing at Cooney Dam! They had a grand time together. He loved his grandchildren and enjoyed taking them hunting and fishing.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Maud Stender; his wife, Ruth; five brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law; and many friends. Gene left behind his daughter, Lois (Bud) Quier of Joliet; grandchildren Rick (Scarlett) Miller of Maricopa, Ariz., Terry (Sharon) Miller of Billings, Kristene Blank of Missoula, Scott Quier of Newport News, Va., Todd (Michele) Quier of Eagle River, Alaska; eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Lillian Stene; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Joliet Wesleyan Church, with burial in the Rockvale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial which will be given in Gene's name to the Joliet High School scholarship fund or a charity of your choice.