Eugene "Gene" Lewis Champlin

Eugene L. Champlin, age 87, passed away peacefully at home, January 27, 2014, on the family farm,. Gene was the supportive father of Phyllis and Bill Feusahrens, Gary and Cindy Champlin and Robert and Toni Champlin: the proud grandfather of Joe and Tracy Feusahrens, Ellen Feusahrens, Mary Feusahrens, Karl Feusahrens, Sadie Champlin, Henry Champlin, Palmer Champlin, Parker Champlin and Seth Champlin; and the loving great grandfather of Ivy and Genna Feusahrens; all of whom treasure his memory and strive to live up to his example.

Gene was born on October 2, 1926, the only child of Henry and Hulda Champlin. He was raised on the farm, east of Twin Falls, and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1944. He enlisted in the US Army in 1945 and served in Korea after the end of World War II. Upon his discharge he returned to Idaho and began his chosen career in farming along Kimberly Road, taking over the operations from his father.

He met Wilma Brown at a young adult social at the Methodist Church, and they were married in June of 1949. They soon had a large circle of close friends to camp, fish, ski and play bridge with. A Fourth of July Picnic in 1951 became a tradition that continues on today, with the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original five families. Annual ski weeks with The California Crashenburners continued for many years as well.

Gene was active in the Jaycees, Boy Scout Troop 67 and the First United Methodist Church where he held many leadership roles over his lifetime of membership. He was elected to the Twin Falls School Board, served for 9 years and was Chairman 1984 thru 1987. He thoroughly enjoyed his years of service and his involvement in public school education.

Gene’s farming experience began with horse drawn plows, hand weeding, stationary combines and irrigating with feed ditches. Raising the crops in the summer and feeding cattle in the winter, the operation changed to include large tractors and combines, pesticides and converting nearly all the farm to sprinkler irrigation. In all the years of farming he only had two hired men: Neil Dalton and Richard White, due largely to the fact that Gene never asked them to do anything he wasn’t going to do himself. Later, in 1985, he started a farming partnership with his son, Robert.

In 1993 after Gary returned to the farm, Wilma saw an opportunity to move Gene into retirement. They started playing golf and joined the Blue Lakes Country Club. They enjoyed cruises and vacations with friends but always returning to the farm in time to disk, plant, cultivate and harvest.

When Wilma passed away in 1998, Gene began a new chapter of his life, but as always, the farm continued to take center stage. He often said that if there wasn’t something that needed to be done each day, there probably wasn’t a reason to get out of bed…and there was always something that needed to be done on the farm.

His dear friends helped this transition, and this special relationship with Lorraine Call brought new friends who enriched his life as well. He joined a UNO group and bragged that he was the only “guy” at the table. Gene was a regular at his grandchildren’s activities. He may not have missed a Kimberly High School football game in 11 years. Dance recitals, piano performances, ball games, Boy Scout banquets, high school graduations– if there was a grandchild there – so was Grandpa Champlin.

Ever the optimist, when given a diagnosis of cancer in the spring of 2013, Gene said, “When can we get started with the treatments?” and promptly planted 12 flats of bedding plants. Although the treatment proved to be too much, Gene continued to find joy in life – visits from the grandkids, baseball games, birthday parties and the company of good friends and family.

The family would like to thank Dr. Trevor Satterfield and the staff at St. Luke’s MISTI, Idaho Home Health and Hospice, A Caring Hand Home Health Home, and Gene’s dear friend and house keeper, Cheryl Stolberg who kept his house presentable for more than 20 years. Memorials may be made in Gene’s name to the First United Methodist Church in Twin Falls or the Kimberly School District Foundation.

A celebration of Gene’s Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, 360 Shoshone Street East, Twin Falls with Pastor Mike Hollomon officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. A gathering of friends and family will take place on Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at White Mortuary, 136 4th Ave. East, Twin Falls.

Services are under the direction of Trent Stimpson and staff at White Mortuary, Chapel by the Park, Twin Falls.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.whitemortuary.com.