Eugene F. Fildes

Eugene F. “Gene” Fildes, 72, of Milan, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 30, at Christ Anglican Church, Moline, with The Revd. Canon Ed den Blaauwen officiating. Visitation is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 29, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation (Parkinson’s disease treatments and research) or the Quad City Animal Welfare Center Adoption & Education Center in Milan, Illinois.

Eugene Fred Fildes was born March 9, 1953, in Olney, Illinois, the son of Floyd and Naomi (Brummet) Fildes. He graduated from Clay City High School in Clay City, Illinois, in the top percentile of his class with honors. He married the love of his life, Terri Storer, on July 7, 2007, in Moline.

Gene worked for the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command and retired in 2016 after over 33 years of service. He shared his love of aviation as a certified flight instructor for the Flying Country Club, Inc., holding CFR, IFR, Airline Transport Pilot (Airplane Multi-Engine Land), and aerobatics ratings. Gene was part owner in a Super Decathlon, in which he loved to perform aerobatic maneuvers. He was also a Captain for the Civil Air Patrol for many years. Flying was more than a pastime for Gene—it was a calling. He found freedom and joy in the skies and delighted in teaching others to fly, passing along not only skills but also his deep respect for the wonder of flight. He was duped, “Gene-Gene, the Flying Machine” by Radio Broadcaster Entertainers, 97X Dwyer & Michaels when Gene, for 10 years, rain or shine, headed up a team of airplanes to fly to Joliet, Illinois to pick up white Castle hamburgers to bring back to the listeners of the Dwyer & Michaels Show. For over a decade, Gene was a volunteer with the Quad City Air Show working at the Moline Ramp, supporting the needs of the Air Show performers, including the Blue Angles and the Thunderbirds. Gene was often seen marshalling in large transport aircraft carrying supplies and crew of the performers.

Gene spent many hours in his wife’s 1968 Piper Cherokee, “Charlie Mike,” where some of his happiest moments were spent soaring above and through the clouds with Terri at his side. Gene and Terri participated in National Prayer Day Prayer Flights, in which private planes all over the United States prayed over their respective State Capitals. For several years, Gene and Terri flew their airplane “Charlie Mike” over the Illinois State Capital building in Springfield, Illinois, carrying a prayer warrior on board. Each year the prayer warrior passenger would pray for the State’s and Nation’s well-being while Terri flew, and Gene navigated. In the final year of their prayer flight, their beloved parish priest Father Ed den Blaauwen, was their prayer warrior. Gene also jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. He loved to fly the plane carrying his skydiving friends at the Geneseo, Illinois airport.

Gene loved to travel. He would fly Terri to the East Coast in one of his Flying Country Club planes for seafood. Flying Charlie Mike, they visited family in Colorado and Kansas. He had never been outside of the United States until he met Terri. They honeymooned in Cabo, Mexico and traveled to England, tracing Gene’s family roots. Visiting Germany, where Terri went to High School, they spent time in the Heidelberg Castle. They attended a wedding in Spain. Hawaii was a highlight of Gene’s travels, enjoying the beaches of Maui, visiting the airport at Ford Island and honoring the crew members at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Gene and Terri went on their first cruise for their 10th wedding with their Christ Church family. Always fascinated with machinery, Gene loved to watch the ship from the room’s balcony as it docked in the ports of Spain, Italy, France, and Greece.

When he wasn’t flying, he cherished time spent with his family. As a daddy’s girl and only child, daughter, Mandy, held a special place in Gene’s heart. He took her to her horseback riding lessons, loved all her pets, helped fix her cars, and stood as a father figure to any of her friends who needed it. And what a loving, cool grandpa he was to Kate, his granddaughter.

Gene was a real animal lover, especially for his childhood dog, Skippy and the cats Gene and Terri adopted from the Humane Society, Patches and Shadow, as well as Oscar, Toby, Piper, and Luna, who are waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge.

A man of strong faith, he was a devoted member of Christ Anglican Church in Moline. Known for his great sense of humor, patience, and quick wit, Gene had a wide range of talents and interests. He loved music, playing both guitar and piano, and as a high school student was a state-award-winning trumpet player. He enjoyed building and repairing cars and had the remarkable ability to fix just about anything. He cherished his 2005 commemorative blue Corvette convertible and belonged to the Midwest Corvette Club. He is remembered for his flashy black Trans Am.

Gene is survived by his loving wife and co-pilot, Terri Fildes of Milan; his beloved daughter, Amanda “Mandy” (Robert) McCartney of Sherrard; his pride and joy, granddaughter, Kadence “Kate” McCartney; his step-sons, Ryan (Brandy) Keller of Towanda, Kansas, and Brett (Jen) Martin of Commerce City, Colorado; step-grandchildren, Grant, Georgia and Gwendolyn Keller, and Zoë Martin; step-great-grandson, Maverick Keller; and nephews and nieces, Robert (Anne) Fildes, Anita (Joe) Redford, and Jeff (Becky Smith) Patridge, and their families; 94 year old Mother-in-law, Patricia, sister-in-law, Tomi (Marvin) Bailey and brother-in-law, Karl (Lisa) Storer and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Naomi Fildes; his brother, Elsworth (Cleta) Fildes; sisters, Elener (Leland) Patridge and Evelyn Fulk; a nephew, Greg Patridge, and sister-in-law, Jacquie (Sam) Harding.

The family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.