F. E. "Gene" Liesman

1937 - 2024

F. E. "Gene" Liesman

Feb. 15, 1937 - Jan. 7, 2024

BLOOMINGTON - F. E. "Gene" Liesman, 86, of Bloomington, passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

His memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal, where a visitation will be one hour prior to services. A private inurnment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Joseph's Indian School, PO Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326 or to Carle Hospice.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

Gene was born February 15, 1937 in Lincoln, son of Raymond F. and Alma Minder Liesman, who both preceded him in death. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol A. Larson on September 6, 1958 at St Patrick Catholic Church, Lincoln. They have lived a long, wonderful life together, celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary last September with their family.

In addition to Carol, Gene is survived by their three children: Mike (Colleen) Liesman, Bloomington, Laura (Chris) Spitzig, Verona, WI and Linda (Tim) Hoefft, Morton; he is also survived by seven grandchildren: Matt Liesman, Kerrie (Josh) Grant, Natalie (Kyle) Engeling, Taylor (Bri) Zeilinger and Kyle Hoefft, Hannah (Kyle) Garcia and Emma Hoefft; and five great-grandchildren, all of whom enjoyed many "Liesman Family Get-Togethers" for Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays and weddings, where they always had lots of fun.

Gene grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School, where he participated in basketball, football and track. He was a proud member of the 1955 Lincoln Railsplitters basketball team that made the IHSA State Tournament in Champaign. After high school, Gene attended SIU-Carbondale and graduated with a Master's degree in Director of Parks and Outdoor Education.

During Gene's career, he served as Director of Parks for the Broadview (IL) Park District during the 1960's and also served as an officer of the Midwest Institute of Park Executives. He worked as an insurance broker for Frank B. Hall & Co in Chicago during the 1970's and 80's, finishing his career there as Vice President. From there, he and Carol operated a Karmelkorn franchise in St. Charles, before retiring in the early 1990's.

He was a charter member of the Broadview Exchange Club and was active in the St. Charles Exchange Club, where they moved in 1972. He was a member of the Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb, where he enjoyed playing golf and he also served as President of the Lake Charlotte HOA in St. Charles. He was also an active member of St. Patrick's Parish in St. Charles, where they lived for 30 years before moving to Bloomington in 2003.

In his retirement years, Gene enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting activities and rooting on his favorite teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Fighting Illini and the Purdue Boilermakers. He also enjoyed reading about history, especially World War II, a war in which his father proudly served. Gene passed on to his children his love for golf and sports and he enjoyed his time with his family and friends, of which, he had many.