Eugene L. “Gene” Gaulke, 90, of Deland, Florida, formerly of Cedar Falls and Waverly, died on Thursday morning, February 2, 2017, at the Halifax Health Hospice/West Volusia Care Center in Orange City, Florida.
Gene was born on July 13, 1926, in Dows, Iowa, the son of Lewis and Erdene (Starr) Gaulke. Gene graduated in 1944 from the Clarion High School and then attended 3 years at Iowa State Teachers College (now U.N.I.) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. On September 26, 1944, Gene was drafted into the U.S. Army at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, during WWII. He was assigned to the 10th Armored Division which was headed for the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Europe. Gene was honorably discharged on July 1, 1946, with the rank of Sgt. Gene was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, Eamet Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon and the Bronze Star. On June 5, 1949, Gene was united in marriage to Betty A. Bowman in the Methodist Church in Clarion, Iowa. The couple made their home in Clarion, and in 1956 they moved to Janesville, Iowa, for several months before moving to Waverly. Gene worked from 1956-1961, with Hampton Iowa Farmers Hybrids. Gene then worked as a salesman for U.S. Steel, Agri-Chemicals based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gene retired in 1987, and the couple continued to make their home in Waverly. Betty died on January 9, 1990. In 1993, Gene was united in marriage to Dolores G. Voorhees, making their home in Cedar Falls. The couple later divorced. For the past 6 years, Gene has been living in Deland, Florida, to be closer to his daughter/son-in-law, Kathy & Larry and grandchildren.
Gene was a former member of First Methodist Church in Cedar Falls and Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly. Gene loved to play golf, go dancing, and listen to Big Band music, but most of all loved spending time with his family. Gene loved life and was very active until the past 3 weeks.
Gene is survived by his daughter; Kathy (Larry) Flynn of Orange City, Florida; five grandchildren, Jeremy Patchin, Trent Gaulke, Carrie (Andrew) Butcher, Lucas Flynn, Nathan Flynn; three great grandchildren, Ariel, Drake and Reagan; a daughter-in-law, Roberta Gaulke of Des Moines, Iowa; two brothers, Clinton (JoAnn) Gaulke of Des Moines, Iowa, Donald (Norma) Gaulke of Phoenix, Arizona; and one sister, Donna Gaulke, Reno, Nevada. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Erdene; his son Craig Gaulke; and grandson, Benjamin Gaulke.
Original Obituary at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home