Eugene Erwin Schlicker

Eugene passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Covenant Medical Center Cooper at the age of 91 due to the rapid onset of uncontrollable seizures. He was the son of the late Erwin and Emma (Weiss) Schlicker, born April 13, 1934, in a small farmhouse in Saginaw County, Michigan. At the age of seven, his family moved to a farmhouse in Frankenlust Township, where he would help farm the land before and after his father’s early passing. He would later build a house in 1965 on the corner of this land where he would live for the remainder of his life. Eugene was a devout member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bay City, Michigan, where he also attended grade school and was confirmed.

Besides helping on the farm, as a kid, he handset bowling pins for extra money. At the age of 18, he started working at General Motors in the Saginaw Steering Gear Division, where he worked until he retired in 1990 after 37.5 years. Eugene would get a break from the harsh shop conditions when he was drafted to serve in the United States Army from December 1956 until December 1958. Having dropped out of T.L. Handy High School after tenth grade to help his Mother on the farm, he was able to get his GED while in the service. Although he never traveled far from home, during his time stationed in Germany, he was able to visit places such as the Black Forest, the Arc of Triumph, and the Eifel Tower.

Even while working at GM, Eugene would maintain a beautiful yard with many flowers along with a large garden. His cars would always be spotless, and he would continue the do-it-yourself attitude of his farm upbringing by doing most of his own vehicle maintenance. With many of his siblings living nearby, they would get together to play cards, snowmobile, and throw horseshoes. He bowled in many leagues, enjoyed Polka dancing at the LFA Hall and regularly watched the Detroit Tigers and Lions. He also enjoyed watching car racing on TV and in person at Tri-City Speedway in Auburn. He enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, and going on annual fishing trips on a boat in the Bay with his sister Marilyn and brother-in-law Fred. Somehow, he found time to make whiskey barrels of red wine using his Mother’s recipe. He enjoyed socializing at places like Bailey’s Bar, The Curve Bar & Grill, Gera Bar, and was a member of the Washington Club and the Bay City Eagles Club. In retirement, he also enjoyed traveling to Casinos and going on Color Tours.

Eugene is survived by his son, Darrell Eugene (Tracy); one granddaughter, Sierra; one sister, Kathleen (Don) Doud and one sister-in-law, Loretta Schlicker. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his three sisters, Marilyn Hine, Veldora Forster, and Lorna Bills and his two brothers, Ronald Schlicker and Larry Schlicker.

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bay City. Officiating will be Pastor Dennis Matyas with Committal and Military Honors following in St. Paul Church Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at the Gephart Funeral Home from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made in Eugene’s memory to the Epilepsy Foundation.