Gene Moore Eblen
November 24, 1947 — November 19, 2015
Gene Moore Eblen
Gene Moore Eblen was born on November 24, 1947 to George and Edna (Paulsen) Eblen in Atlantic, Iowa. He attended school in Atlantic and in 1965 enlisted with the United States Army and served as a mechanic.
He married Evelyn McDermott on April 4, 1970 at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut, Iowa. They were the parents of three boys: Aaron, Anthony and Adam. Evelyn died suddenly on December 21, 1991 in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Gene married Barbara Rowe on May 5, 2007 in Walnut, Iowa. She has one son, James Wolff. And together they have one daughter, their dog Sisey.
Gene’s life work was radio maintenance and installation, which included working with many area fire and police departments. After starting his own business, he worked for Racom Corporation. In his thirty years there, no one can recall him taking a sick day and he was still able to attend almost all of his sons’ sporting events. He also loved being a volunteer for the Walnut Fire Department. He served the city of Walnut for thirty five years. For the last few years, he was an honorary member, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Walnut and the Fire Department.
Gene had many other loves: riding his motorcycle, traveling to Daytona, shooting guns, making his own ammunition, and attending the annual fire convention with his fire department family. His treasured family time included long phone conversations with his boys, laughing with his grandkids, and spending time with Barb and their combined families.
Gene died at his home in Walnut, Iowa surrounded by his family and supported by the Fire Department members on Thursday November 19, 2015 having attained the age of sixty seven years, eleven months and twenty six days. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister-in-law, Loretta, and his first wife, Evelyn.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Barbara Eblen of Walnut, Iowa; sons and daughters-in-law: Aaron (Essence) Eblen of Pensacola, Florida; Anthony (Lindsey) Eblen of Treynor, Iowa; Adam (Melissa) Eblen of Jacksonville, Florida; James (Mandy) Wolff of Walnut, Iowa; Grandchildren: Aubrey and Emma Eblen of Pensacola, Florida; Evyn, Cohen, and Kenner Eblen of Treynor, Iowa; Dylan Eblen of Underwood, Iowa; Katilyn, Connor, and Colton Wolff of Walnut, Iowa; Brothers Richard Eblen of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Joseph (Donna) Eblen of Atlantic, Iowa; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Teri Gaines, Becky (Craig) Parmley, Jodie Nielsen, Patty (Mike) Goines, Deb (Danny) Holtz, Elaine McDermott, Kenner (Randy) Baxter, Jim (Bobbie) McDermott, many nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends.
To begin Gene’s visitation on Sunday, November 22, 2015 the Walnut Fire Department members carried his bunker gear forward honoring his thirty five years of service to the department. Two department members then remained flanking Gene’s casket as a casket guard, each member took a turn, changing out at ten minute intervals for the entire duration of the visitation.
Pastor Brian Wohlhuter of the Minden United Church of Christ led a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Service on Monday, November 23, 2015 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa. Fire Departments from all over the county were represented. Cody Parmley sang “I Can Only Imagine” and Nellie Popp sang “I’ll Still be Loving You.” Honorary Casket bearers were Gene’s grandchildren - Aubrey, Emma, Evyan, Cohen, Kenner and Dylan Eblen and Katilyn, Connor and Colton Wolff. Casket bearers were: Brett Petersen, Donnie Bauerkemper, Darrell Stamp, Jim Hoffmann, Justen Tooley, Mike Gettler, Danny Holtz, Craig Parmley, Mike Goins, and Ron Malloy. Gene journeyed to Walnut to Layton Township Cemetery on the back of an antique Fire Truck he was instrumental in restoring. The fire truck and car procession was a mile long and when arriving at the cemetery in Walnut there was an enormous flag held up by two fire trucks. The Walnut American Legion provided a full honor guard with full military honors. Family and friends gathered at the Walnut American Hall to celebrate Gene’s life following the committal service. Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gene Moore Eblen was born on November 24, 1947 to George and Edna (Paulsen) Eblen in Atlantic, Iowa. He attended school in Atlantic and in 1965 enlisted with the United States Army and served as a mechanic.
He married Evelyn McDermott on April 4, 1970 at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut, Iowa. They were the parents of three boys: Aaron, Anthony and Adam. Evelyn died suddenly on December 21, 1991 in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Gene married Barbara Rowe on May 5, 2007 in Walnut, Iowa. She has one son, James Wolff. And together they have one daughter, their dog Sisey.
Gene’s life work was radio maintenance and installation, which included working with many area fire and police departments. After starting his own business, he worked for Racom Corporation. In his thirty years there, no one can recall him taking a sick day and he was still able to attend almost all of his sons’ sporting events. He also loved being a volunteer for the Walnut Fire Department. He served the city of Walnut for thirty five years. For the last few years, he was an honorary member, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Walnut and the Fire Department.
Gene had many other loves: riding his motorcycle, traveling to Daytona, shooting guns, making his own ammunition, and attending the annual fire convention with his fire department family. His treasured family time included long phone conversations with his boys, laughing with his grandkids, and spending time with Barb and their combined families.
Gene died at his home in Walnut, Iowa surrounded by his family and supported by the Fire Department members on Thursday November 19, 2015 having attained the age of sixty seven years, eleven months and twenty six days. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister-in-law, Loretta, and his first wife, Evelyn.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Barbara Eblen of Walnut, Iowa; sons and daughters-in-law: Aaron (Essence) Eblen of Pensacola, Florida; Anthony (Lindsey) Eblen of Treynor, Iowa; Adam (Melissa) Eblen of Jacksonville, Florida; James (Mandy) Wolff of Walnut, Iowa; Grandchildren: Aubrey and Emma Eblen of Pensacola, Florida; Evyn, Cohen, and Kenner Eblen of Treynor, Iowa; Dylan Eblen of Underwood, Iowa; Katilyn, Connor, and Colton Wolff of Walnut, Iowa; Brothers Richard Eblen of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Joseph (Donna) Eblen of Atlantic, Iowa; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Teri Gaines, Becky (Craig) Parmley, Jodie Nielsen, Patty (Mike) Goines, Deb (Danny) Holtz, Elaine McDermott, Kenner (Randy) Baxter, Jim (Bobbie) McDermott, many nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends.
To begin Gene’s visitation on Sunday, November 22, 2015 the Walnut Fire Department members carried his bunker gear forward honoring his thirty five years of service to the department. Two department members then remained flanking Gene’s casket as a casket guard, each member took a turn, changing out at ten minute intervals for the entire duration of the visitation.
Pastor Brian Wohlhuter of the Minden United Church of Christ led a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Service on Monday, November 23, 2015 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa. Fire Departments from all over the county were represented. Cody Parmley sang “I Can Only Imagine” and Nellie Popp sang “I’ll Still be Loving You.” Honorary Casket bearers were Gene’s grandchildren - Aubrey, Emma, Evyan, Cohen, Kenner and Dylan Eblen and Katilyn, Connor and Colton Wolff. Casket bearers were: Brett Petersen, Donnie Bauerkemper, Darrell Stamp, Jim Hoffmann, Justen Tooley, Mike Gettler, Danny Holtz, Craig Parmley, Mike Goins, and Ron Malloy. Gene journeyed to Walnut to Layton Township Cemetery on the back of an antique Fire Truck he was instrumental in restoring. The fire truck and car procession was a mile long and when arriving at the cemetery in Walnut there was an enormous flag held up by two fire trucks. The Walnut American Legion provided a full honor guard with full military honors. Family and friends gathered at the Walnut American Hall to celebrate Gene’s life following the committal service. Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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