Gene was born in Waseca County on June 27, 1918. After graduation from New Richland High School, he joined the military serving our country as a United States Army Air Corpsman from 1941 until being honorably discharged in 1945. He married Sylvia Tukua on June 5, 1943 in Santa Ana, California. Throughout his life, Gene worked at the local hardware store in New Richland, and later became the owner of Dodge’s Our Own Hardware from which he retired in 1982. He was also a postal service worker in New Richland, Waseca and Mankato for 23 years, and a funeral assistant and care taker at Friedrich/Bonnerup Funeral Services for many wonderful years.
Gene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and was Sunday School Superintendant for 15 years. He was a member of the Commercial Club, a volunteer for the New Richland Fire Department and a 63-year member of the American Legion
Gene enjoyed going to any and all of the local sporting events. He was New Richland’s number one sports fan, even after his children and grandchildren graduated from high school. He was even the time clock manager for high school basketball games for many years. Above all, Gene loved spending time with his family, and cherished every moment he was able to spend with each and every one of them.
Gene was survived by his wife Sylvia; his children: Karen (David) Jacobson of New Richland, Curtis (Susan) Dodge of Rochester, Mark (Lorraine) Dodge of Brooklyn Park, MN, Mary (Larry) Berg of Hartland; grandchildren: Erik (Heidi) Jacobson of New Richland, Nathan (Michelle) Jacobson of Hudson, WI, Seth (Amy) Jacobson of Medina, MN, Beth Ann (Kevin) Tostenson of Rochester, MN, Michael Gene Dodge of Rochester, MN, Michael (Danika) Stagemeyer of Rochester, MN, Karen (Paul) Degen of Brooklyn Park, MN, Mark (Susan) Dodge of Celebration, FL, David (Laurin) Dodge of Madison, WI, Amy (Douglas) Stenzel of Matawan, MN, Jenny (Dan) Ross of West Des Moines, IA, Sara (Todd) Britton of Janesville, MN, Jeremy (Kimberly) Berg of Lake Mills, IA, Angie Blouin of Ellendale; many great grandchildren; sister’s-in-law: Dorothy (Bill) Jones of Downey, CA, Doris Tukua of Long Beach CA, Vida Tukua of Antioch, CA; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Albert Dodge and Aletha (Winegar) Dodge; daughter: Ruth Ann Blouin; brother: Lyell Dodge; sister: Beryl “Auntie B” Tollefson; granddaughter Trina Blouin; and great-granddaughter Etta May Ross.
