Francis Eugene "Gene" Girten

Francis Eugene “Gene” Girten, 75, of Geneseo, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at his residence. A Funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019, at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo.  Reverend Michael Pakula will celebrate.  Cremation will be accorded following the Mass, and a private inurnment will be held at Northside Cemetery.  Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel.  Memorials may be directed to the Geneseo Food Pantry and Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo.

Francis was born on March 26, 1944, the son of Charles and Margaret (Bickett) Girten, in Princeton, IL.  He married Mary Ann Rice on February 14, 1970, in Geneseo.  Gene was employed by John Deere Foundry, where he worked for thirty-one years, retiring in 1993.  He was a member of the Geneseo Moose Lodge and St. Malachy Catholic Church.  He was an avid Geneseo football fan, and enjoyed the White Sox, Green Bay Packers, gardening, and especially spending time with his family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 49 years, Mary Ann; daughters, Tanya (Wade) Pettit, Fox Island, WA, and Mindy (Mary Cantlin) Girten, Grantham, NH; sons, Damian (Melissa) Girten, DeForest, WI, and Bill (Tricia) Girten, Geneseo; grandchildren, Zachary, Lucas, and Nicholas Williams, Eugene, OR, Connor, Bryson, and Bennett Girten, DeForest, WI, Hunter, Anna Cate, Grace Lee, and Caroline Page Girten, Geneseo; brothers, Ray (Sally) Girten, Geneseo, and Bob Girten, Clinton Township, MI; sisters, Dolores Nanninga, Annawan, and Betty (Bob) Bennett, Annawan.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Margaret, and his brother, Damian.