Gene Mudd

Gene Mudd, 83, of Warsaw, passed away at 1:44 PM, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

Gene married his high school sweetheart on "the hottest day of the year". 6-11-1961 in Hunnewell, MO at the United Methodist Church with the reception immediately followed at the farm of Robert and Margaret Landrum in an unairconditioned home, Gene complained about sweating until the winter of that year.

Gene was an outstanding, two sport athlete for the Monroe City Panthers in baseball and basketball. His excellence earned him All-State honors in 1956 and 1957. He was proud that his team was the first in school history to make it to state. Even in his last days he would always ask the nurses where they were from, if they answered "Palmyra", he would nod and shake his head and say "that's too bad".

Gene used his basketball ability to put himself through College on scholarship at Northeast Missouri State, Moberly Jr College, and Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree which he was so proud of. "I played sports to pay for my education".

After graduation, he started coaching and teaching with stops in Stover, Braymer, and Belton, Missouri schools. Success followed him throughout his career, and he took the leap from high school to college. He became the Men's basketball coach at Southeastern Community College in Keokuk, IA in 1970. He moved his family to Warsaw, IL. Gene coached the Keokuk Komets for seven seasons having success at each level of competition.

In his spare time during the summer months, he coached the Warsaw first pitch team. Over the next decade his teams dominated both the "little" and "mini" leagues. His teams went undefeated for seven consecutive seasons. He won over 300 wins with only a handful of losses. To this day, former players will comment on how good those teams were, and how well they were coached. Many players tried to emulate Gene and his coaching style. He did not believe in participation trophies. He said, "winning isn't everything but losing sucks". You always knew where you stood with Gene in sports and in life.

After he ended his coaching career/teaching career in 1978 he started selling insurance for Country Companies. He never wanted to sell insurance but after some guidance from J.E. McMurray, he decided to give it a try. Gene sold insurance for the next twenty-six years winning numerous awards, trips and praise from those around him. He was the first agent in Hancock County to open his own office at 618 Main Street in Warsaw, Illinois where he operated out of that facility.

Gene was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed all types of bird hunting including quail, turkey, dove, duck, and goose. He also enjoyed boating and fishing on the Mississippi River. He loved boating so much that the Mudd family cleared their summer schedules from Memorial Day to Labor Day to spend their time boating. He has been credited for teaching over 300 people on how to water ski by simply showing them and then shouting at them if they could not get up. It worked. He boated from Warsaw, IL to Paducah, KY pulling skiers on three different rivers along the way. The journey south, made several news outlets. Gene Mudd and Gary Beeler built a cabin on the Mississippi River and every weekend was all about boating, hunting, fishing. Gene loved hunting so much that even found himself getting into raising labradors to complement his waterfowl addiction. He raised some of the best dogs around.

After Gene's retirement, he spent his winters vacationing in Pharr, Tx. He spent 3 months a year living out of his motorhome. Gene developed a love for trapshooting. He traveled all around the midwest going to competitions. Gene was a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan with a yearly trip to Busch Stadium to cheer on the Redbirds. He loved spending time with his children, but it was grandchildren and great-grandchildren that gave him so much joy. He was always a "crowd favorite" at family gatherings. Gene loved his family and his home. He lived in Warsaw, near the Ft. Edwards Memorial for 53 years. He was never interested in selling his home or moving away from Warsaw. He will be laid to rest in Warsaw at the Oakland Cemetery. Last but not least, Gene Mudd would always say, "I'm a Missourian forever, and don't you forget it."

Gene is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Warsaw; children, Robb (Karen) Mudd of Jacksonville, Illinois, Susan (Jeff) Wherley of Macomb, and Scott (Carla) Mudd of Carthage; stepchildren, Jennifer Cooper and Jacob Wherley; grandchildren, Austin (Hannah) Mudd, Jordan (Dylan) Reed, Karsyn Mudd, Kendyll Mudd, Kaylea (Brad) Schmidt, Madison (Zach) Wherley, Drake Mudd, Chase Mudd, Lillian Cooper, Evan Cooper and Kolbi Wherley; great grandchildren, Mia and Norah Reed and Sloane and Barrett Schmidt; one sister, Doris Ann (Melvin) Wilson of Burlington; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Sue Mudd.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday morning, June 16, 2023, at Printy Funeral Home in Warsaw with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery in Warsaw. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 2:00 – 7:00 PM with family meeting friends from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. at Printy Funeral Home in Warsaw. A memorial fund has been established. Printy Funeral Home of Warsaw is in charge of arrangements.