Eugene D. Risdon

Eugene Douglas Risdon, age 91, of Cloquet, Minnesota passed away on Friday, November 8, 2024, at Evergreen Knoll Assisted Living. He was born on December 29, 1932, to Michael and June (Parsons) Risdon in Manannah, Minnesota. Gene graduated from Cloquet High School in 1951 and was united in marriage to Carol Ann Johnson on September 30, 1961.
Gene was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He worked at the Fish and Game Department in Glenwood, Minnesota, Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, Minnesota, and Northwest Paper Company where he worked for 20 years. Along with his wife, Carol, he started G & C Sports Inc. in the Sunnyside area of Cloquet, and also owned West End Beauty Shoppe. For retirement, they opened The Rock Place in the west end of town where Gene could showcase his love of collecting agates and cutting and polishing them into jewelry.
Music played a large role in Gene's life. He and Carol enjoyed many hours spent dancing together while listening to their son's band. He enjoyed playing the trombone in the Cloquet Community Band in which he and Carol were members. Harmonica was Gene's instrument of choice and playing it brought him great joy, even up until his final days. Gene was an avid duck hunter, enjoyed hunting small game and deer, and fishing with his best partner and wife, Carol. Gene also started the Cloquet Archery Club, had an active role in beginning the Ski Fleas Snowmobile Club, and taught snowmobile and gun safety.
Gene is survived by his wife, Carol; sister-in-law Ardyce (Arthur) Thurston; children, Irene (Brad) Angell, David (Brenda) Risdon, and Thomas (Brenda) Risdon; daughter-in-law, Cindy Risdon; grandchildren, Kary (Mickey) Ley, Annette (Dave) Levesque, Lee (Jessica) Risdon, Jayson (Andrea) and JayLene Rimolde, and Kelvin (Beth), Trever, Derryk, Pierce (Eden) and Quintin Risdon; nine great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and other extended relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Eugene B. Risdon; brother, Dr. Michael Risdon; and sister-in-law, Jo Risdon.
Services in honor of Eugene will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet, Minnesota. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until the 2:00 p.m. memorial service. Refreshments will follow.
The family would like to give special thanks to Evergreen Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for the great care they gave to Gene and family. A very special thanks to the Resident Assistants who cared for Gene.