Eugene "Gene" Koellhoffer

Eugene "Gene" Koellhoffer

AGE: 90 • Long Branch

Eugene "Gene" Koellhoffer, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 26, four days before his 91st birthday. Gene was born in East Orange to Mary and Eugene Koellhoffer. His family moved to Long Branch where Gene graduated from Long Branch High School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in India and afterwards returned to Long Branch.

After a short time, Gene began working at Fort Monmouth, and Camp Evans as a heavy equipment operator. Gene worked many years at Camp Evans, and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970's working on projects for the U.S. Department of Defense. While working at Fort Monmouth, Gene was awarded the Army's Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, for preventing a gasoline tanker truck from blowing up in a populated area, avoiding a disaster at grave personal risk. Gene retired from the federal government in the 1970's. Concurrent with his Civil Service, Gene served in the U.S. Navy Reserve during the Korean War era and he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1963. He worked at Sandy Hook and Governor's Island and for many years was an instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Training Center, Yorktown, VA. Gene retired from the Coast Guard Reserve as a Senior Chief in 1984.

In 1948, Gene married Mildred "Mickey" Koellhoffer, and as they raised a family they also began a lifetime of community service together, she in the Girl Scouts, PTA, other civic organizations; Gene in a host of local organizations. He served over 30 years as the treasurer of the Long Branch Green and White Association, where his stewardship helped to steadily increase the funds for scholarships awarded to student athletes at Long Branch High School. He was a former president of Neptune Hose Fire Company and served 50 years as a Long Branch Volunteer Fireman. He was a member of the Long Branch Fireman's Relief Association, where he worked to support the welfare of firemen's families. Gene was a member of the Italian American Memorial Association, (IAMA) and for many years headed the scholarship committee. Gene was a lifetime member of the Monmouth County Rifle and Pistol Club and also a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. He served as a volunteer Range Safety Officer at the National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio, each summer for over 20 years. Gene was a member of the Disabled American Vets, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Gene was preceded by his wife of 49 years, Mickey, their son James, his parents, Mary and Eugene, and sister Vera (Conway) and best friend, Charlie Widdis. He is survived by his loving children; daughter Patricia Boniello (Ralph), and by sons Michael (Sofie), Carl (Melody) and Daniel as well as twelve grandchildren, Michael Decker, Leo (Lauren) Decker, Stephen, Jennifer, Nathan, Sean, David, Bonnie, Hannah, Nicholas, Claire and Chris Koellhoffer and 6 great-grandchildren Grace, Andrew, Matthew and Timothy, Ellie and Mateo and by Stacy, Matt, Harry and Mae O'Neil and Leigh, Howie, James and Holden Dorough and by Paula, Bill and Merissa Gebele and LB Police Detective (retired) Anne Samuels.

Visitation from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 1 at Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell St., Long Branch. Funeral services 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 at the funeral home, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, Second and Chelsea Avenue, Long Branch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Green and White Association, Long Branch High School, 404 Indiana Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740.

To place a message of condolence in Gene's Book of Memories please visit www.woolleyboglioli.com.