Eugene Twenhafel

Eugene E. Twenhafel, age 100 of rural Carlyle, IL passed away peacefully at DePaul Hospital of Saint Louis, MO, surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Eugene was born on January 6, 1925, in rural Carlyle, Illinois, a son of Edwin H. Twenhafel and Charlotte C. (Maschhoff) Twenhafel. He married Viola C. Bartling on July 8, 1952, and she preceded him in death on August 20th, 2012.

Eugene is survived by his children, Donna Richard and husband Blain of Hoyleton, Lori McCartney and husband Ray of Huntersville, NC, and Doyle Twenhafel and wife Pam of rural Carlyle; grandchildren, Nicole (Dane) Johnson, Shana (Chase Hawkins) Richard, Rebecca (Chris) Goehausen, Brian Gowdy, Zachary Twenhafel, and Jacob Twenhafel; great-grandchildren, Lane Johnson and Harper Hawkins; cousins, nephews, nieces; and many relatives and friends.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Charlotte Twenhafel, his wife, Viola Twenhafel, brother, Allen Twenhafel, sister-in-law, Anita Twenhafel, and nephew, Larry Twenhafel.

Eugene's greatest joys were his family, faith and farming. A life-long farmer, Eugene started harrowing with mules at age 6 and continued to combine corn until age 98. Eugene attended grade school at Posey Central School and Trinity Lutheran School in Hoffman. Eugene graduated from Carlyle High School in 1943, where he enjoyed playing baseball and fast-pitch softball, throwing a good fastball and knuckleball. He continued playing into his twenties. Eugene worked at Natural Gas Pipeline in Hoffman for eighteen years. Here, he met long-lasting friends, Charlie, Duke, Herman, Joe, and Sharon, who met once a month for lunch, some into their late nineties. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman, Eugene was a charter member of the Men's Club and also served on various church committees through the years. Eugene was a faithful supporter of the church, Trinity Lutheran School, and Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School. Gene enjoyed gardening into his later years, growing both flowers and vegetables. Flower arranging became a hobby for him in his eighties and nineties and he would share his beautiful arrangements of sunflowers and zinnias with friends and family, even providing the arrangements for his granddaughters' weddings. Every summer, friends and neighbors would enjoy deliveries of his sweet corn.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman with the Rev. Brett Jones officiating. Interment will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Hoffman.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman and from 9:30 a.m. until time of services Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or to Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School and will be accepted at the church or through Zieren Funeral Home at 1111 Clinton Street, Carlyle, IL 62231.