Eugene R. DeNeve

Eugene R. "Gene" DeNeve, 78, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Van Horne, with the Rev. Jacob Dunne as concelebrant. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Blairstown Community Building Gym in Blairstown. A memorial fund has been established. Gene was born on Nov. 20, 1944, in Belle Plaine, the son of Herman and Clara (Baetsle) DeNeve. Gene graduated from Van Horne High School, with the class of 1963. On Aug. 22, 1964, he was united in marriage to Becky Kimmich at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Van Horne. Gene worked for F.S. for 37 years, driving the fuel truck. He had served with the Van Horne Volunteer Fire Department and was a long-time, active member at St. John Catholic Church. He enjoyed volunteering with Mission of Hope. Gene had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed teasing friends and family alike. You always wanted to be careful accepting any hotwings from Gene. He loved a good time, especially bowling, Rolle Bolle, Cards and games of any kind. He dearly loved his large family. Survivors include his wife, Becky; children, Trent (Wendy) DeNeve, Mindy (Andy) Wallace, Jodi (Steve) Metz, Cory (Jana) DeNeve, Kami (Roger) Thenhaus and Kandee (Adam) Kaiser; grandchildren, Kaylee (Cris), Keaton (MaKayla), Kody (Emily), Alyssa (Andrew), Amber (Devon), Will, Charlie, Jory (Megan), Ashley (Ethan), Tristan (Liz), Emma (Dylan), Ariel (Jeff), Crystal, Seth, Ethan, Kennedy, Morgan, Scott (Kayla), Kourtney (Avery), Ethan (Dawn), Jacob, Laurynn and Connor; several great-grandchildren; sister, JoAnn McFarland; sister-in-law, Shirley DeNeve; several special nieces and nephews; and dear friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Lanny; sister, Patricia Flickinger; and brother, Fred DeNeve. "Stay in the Buggy!" Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.