Gene W. Blackwelder

Braman) Blackwelder in a farmhouse in Johnson, Minnesota. Gene grew up on the family farm in Chokio, Minnesota.

Gene attended a one room school house (Big Stone County Country School #61) in his early years where his mother was the teacher for several of those years. Gene graduated from Chokio High School in 1947.

After high school, Gene attended Dumwoody Electric School in Minneapolis to be an electrician. He managed the electric department at Lyndale Hardware until he was drafted into the army in 1951. Gene spent his 21st birthday scrubbing floors. He was sent to Korea and learned to repair X-ray machines, a skill that very few knew how to do. Gene was in the army for two years and received an honorable discharge.

Gene met his future wife, Greta Wick, at a friend's house on Sunday, June 20, 1954. They were married on December 18, 1954 after only knowing each other for six months. He asked Greta for a picture on their second date. When she inquired as to why he wanted the picture, he said that he wanted a picture of the woman that he was going to marry. Gene & Greta recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.

After Gene & Greta were married, Gene worked full time as a Police Officer in Fargo, North Dakota. He was also going to college full time on the GI bill and he graduated from North Dakota State University with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Psychology.

Shortly after graduation, Gene was hired as an Inspector with the IRS in St. Paul, MN. In 1961, he was promoted and he moved his wife and four kids to Kirkwood, MO. They lived there for 5-1/2 years, and their 5th child was born there.

In 1966, Gene moved his family to the Chicago area because he was promoted to a supervisor. It was one of their favorite places to live and they made many long lasting friendships. Greta stayed home raising their family and later operated a day care from their house. In 1971, she opened up a dress shop in a nearby shopping center. While living in the Chicago area, Gene served as the Chairman of the Board of Police & Fire Commissioners for several years for the City of Woodridge, IL.

In 1971, Gene was hired by Government Services Administration (GSA) as the Agent in Charge in Chicago. In 1978, they moved to Stafford, VA with their three youngest children as Gene accepted a promotion as Deputy Assistant Inspector General. He retired in 1981. After he retired, Gene worked for the FBI.

Gene and Greta started spending their winters in Arizona, and their summers in Virginia. They split their time between their five children. In January 2000, they built a house in Mesa, AZ and moved there permanently. Shortly thereafter, four of their children lived in the Phoenix area and one in California.

Gene was very active in Des Peres Church in Missouri and Downers Grove Baptist Church in Illinois. Gene and Greta always made sure that they attended church as a family.

He belonged to many fraternal organizations; The Masons, Elks, and Eagles. He was a lifetime member of the American Legions, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks.

Gene enjoyed wood working, and he was very good at it. He made rocking horses and chairs for his grandchildren and he also framed pictures for family and friends in his frame shop. Gene and Greta's front yard was decorated for every holiday with the wood displays that he made and hand painted.

Gene is survived by his wife, Greta and four children, Karla (Ken) Thorstenson of Mesa, Todd of Mesa, Troy (Denise) of Gilbert, and Chad (Anne) of Phoenix; three grandchildren, Kent and Brandon Blackwelder and Kaylee Thorstenson, his sister Arline (Maynard) Erickson and his brother Earl (Andrea). Both siblings live in Chokio, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Arloa (Jim) Ironside and his son, Kent Blackwelder of Redondo Beach, California.

Gene Blackwelder's Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016, 2pm, Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, 6747 East Broadway Road, Mesa, AZ 85206

Gene will be placed at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona located in Phoenix.