Eugene Herman Goodanetz

July 18 1930 – October 12, 2023

Eugene Herman Goodanetz (Gene) of Chinook Cove, British Columbia passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the age of 93, with his devoted wife and son by his side. Gene was a son, a brother, husband, father, grandpa, uncle, hero, leader, educator, and a friend to every stranger and animal. Gene truly had a heart of gold; he was always kind to others and eager to listen with a compassionate ear, lend a hand, or tell a delightful story or joke. Heaven has welcomed another truly kind, genuine Renaissance Man.

Gene was born on July 18, 1930 to Latvian Immigrants in Chicago, Illinois. While very young, his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they raised chickens and marketed under the name Goodness Fryers, selling chicken to TWA airlines. Some of his most memorable stories were the adventures and escapades in the New Mexico foothills with his brother Bill, their horses, and their part wolf dog, Trixie. WWII and work in the ship yards, took his family to California where he finished high school, served in the army, and later graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelors of Science in Public Health. Before graduating, Gene met Nadine Frances Griffith on a blind date and was married June of 1956. They settled in Petaluma, California on a small farm where their four children were born. Working side by side with his family, Gene planted thousands of pine and fir trees which started Pine Tree Farms, a festive Christmas tree plantation for families. They hosted hundreds of school children at Pine Tree Farms, introducing them to farm animals and educating them on trees, conservation, and farming, then would send them off with a fresh cut tree for their school. It was during this time that Gene bought his first registered polled Hereford cattle and developed both businesses while also commuting to San Francisco where he worked full time as a public health inspector. One of Gene’s favorite past times was diving off the coast near Bodega Bay for abalone then frying them right on the beach for his family and friends Sunday picnics. Gene and his brother Bill were also some of the early members of the Santa Rosa Ski Club who helped design and build the Club’s chalet near Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, which still stands today with an active membership for families.

Each summer during his two week vacation, Gene would load his young family up in a pickup camper traveling the rural areas of the west looking for land to buy and fulfill his dream of owning a cattle ranch by the age of forty. In 1971, his dreams became reality when Gene again loaded his ecstatic family, their horses, pets and belongings into a three-ton Ford cab over cattle truck and immigrated to Canada and their new ranch at Chinook Cove, north of Barriere, British Columbia. For the next 52 years, Gene worked side by side with his son, Greg, growing forage in their fields along the North Thompson river, raising cattle, logging, growing a magnificent garden each summer, and stewarding the land he loved.

Gene was blessed to be active, healthy, and sharp his entire life until recently when he was diagnosed with cancer. Just a few months before he passed, Gene still rode in the pickup back to range to check the mamma cows, wanted to be there when the calves were worked, and even still mowed the yard. Gene’s love and devotion to family, agriculture, gardening, instilled work ethic, and respect for nature was his ultimate gift to his children.

Gene is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nadine. He is also survived by daughters, Kathy (Glen) Parker of Three Hills, Alberta, Jeanne (Mark) Reyher of Belgrade, Montana, Alexis (Lee) Dixon of Raton New Mexico, and son Greg of Chinook Cove, Grandchildren Russell, Beverly, Lindsay, Cheyenne, Dustin, Sierra, and Austin, nine great grandchildren, nieces Deborah Souza and Andrea Thompson, and nephew William E Goodanetz. Gene is also survived by his constant canine companion, Cody.

Rejoicing in heaven, Gene joins his parents William Adam and Constance Goodanetz, brother William Joseph Goodanetz, his precious niece Julie, and mother and father in law Frances Irene and Howard Taft Griffith.

Nadine, Greg, and family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and care coordinators of Interior Health for their compassionate and excellent care of Eugene, your kindness will always be remembered.

A private family service was held at Schoening Funeral Service in Kamloops, B.C. Eugene’s Celebration of Life will be held in the spring, Dad’s favorite time of year.