Eugene Joseph Montag

He graduated from Mother of Perpetual Help Grade School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gene attended the Conventual, Franciscan pro-seminary at Mt. St. Francis, Indiana before transferring and graduating from Messmer High School in Milwaukee in 1952. Gene served as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy and completed studies in laboratory and Blood Banking techniques at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland in 1955. After his discharge, he married Joyce Leone Parske August 3, 1957, in West Allis, Wisconsin. After marriage, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. He was active in Republican politics and was a candidate for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1966 and 1968.

The family moved to Creston, Iowa in 1969 where Gene was named Technical Director of Laboratories at Greater Community Hospital in Creston, Iowa. Gene shared Joyce’s interest in health delivery and planning. To learn more about how hospitals planned and delivered care, he took an Independent Study Course at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Health Care and Health Facility Administration.

It was that training the brought Gene and family to Burnet in 1978. Gene was recruited to manage the Allen Clinic. After about 3 years, he moved on to State Service in Austin – serving as a program budget analyst with TDHS and TDH. He retired from the State on December 31, 2001. During his years in Burnet as a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, he served on the parish council and was appointed to the Diocesan Development Fund by Bishop Vincent Harris. On July 14, 1984 He was ordained a Permanent Deacon by Bishop Harris– one of 25 men ordained from the first class of deacons in the Diocese of Austin. He was assigned to Our Mother of Sorrows until 1992; served for 3 years at St. Charles Borromeo in Kingsland, and, returned to Our Mother of Sorrows in 1995. He was always interested in serving others so he joined with others to begin a Catholic ministry at the Helen Halbert prison in Burnet. He served as a religious volunteer for 19 years -- after 7 years he was certified as a volunteer chaplain assistant – this enabled him to have direct contact in private counseling sessions with the inmates. He retired from this service in 2013 to serve as Joyce’s caregiver until her death in 2015. Gene maintained membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Mt. St. Francis Ex-Student Association, and MENSA.

Deacon Gene is survived by his daughter Lyn Autry and husband Rick of Urbandale, Iowa; sons Guy Montag and wife Sandra of DeForest, Wisconsin, James Montag and wife Diane of Buchanan Dam, and Christopher Montag of San Angelo. Also surviving are grandchildren Eric, Brian, Stephane, Wendy, Spencer and his wife Shannon, Tiana, Sasha, and Matthew; and, great-grandchildren Hunter, Isabelle, and Raymond; and, sister-in-law Arlene Jackson of Clermont, Florida. Gene was preceded in death by his spouse, Joyce, his parents, his brother and sister, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

In lieu of flowers contributions are encouraged to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital, 3201 S. Water, Burnet, Texas, 78611; Conventual Franciscan Friars, 101 St. Francis Blvd., Mt. St. Francis, Indiana, 47146-5000; or Condolences may be offered to www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.