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BORN
1955
DIED
2021
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Gene Tutell Obituary
October 12, 1955 - January 4, 2021
Gene Tutell, 65, peacefully finished his race and went home to the Lord on January 4, 2021, surrounded by family at his home in Yuma, Arizona. To his family, there is no way to accurately describe all he meant to us. There was simply nothing that Gene could not do, build, fix, or figure out and any tribute to his life will fall short in our eyes.
Gene was born on October 12, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona, to George and Augusta Joan Tutell. In 1974, Gene moved to Yuma while serving in the Army where he discovered his passion for fire service. After fulfilling his commitment to the Army, he served as a civilian firefighter at YPG eventually moving to the City of Yuma Fire Department in 1981, becoming one badass Captain and Paramedic; that reputation would follow him well into retirement. Gene was proud of the community he served. A master craftsman, Gene assisted in building many custom homes throughout Yuma. In fact, Desert Valley Mortuary was another project that he proudly had a hand in constructing and it is fitting that his final journey starts here.
Gene delighted in his family and especially loved his grandchildren Gavin, Joei, Trent, and Dani.
He is survived by his wife Debbie Tutell, siblings Curt Tutell and Anna Wielichowski, son and daughter-in-law Seth and Amy Tutell, son-in-law and daughter Matt and Shawna Mathias, and his grandchildren.
Services will be held at Desert Valley Mortuary on January 23, 2021. A viewing will take place from 8:30 am to 11:30am with graveside service at 1:00 pm at Sunset Vista Cemetery.
Gene wanted a celebration, please bring your best Tutell story!!
https://www.desertvalleymortuary.com/obituary/eugene-tutell
Please sign the guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/yumasun
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gene Tutell
5 Entries
Tony Williamson
January 20, 2021
First met Gene on a construction site some 30+ years ago. He was a framer with my brother Jimmy. He was always competing about anything. He would say" hey lets see who can drive a 16 penny nail with less swings" Yep you are right he won. I would call him" Gene Gene the Dancing Machine" everytime I would see him on job sites. He would just laugh and shake his head. Fast forward to when we started working together in the Fire Service. Gene was fair to all. He would not ask you to do something if he was not willing to take on the same task. Rest In Peace, Gene Gene The Dancing Machine
Art & Gayle Castricone
January 19, 2021
I was the engineer on Genes first day assigned to engine one. It was obvious, the minute I met him, that he was an extraordinary man. He came to us a notch above expectation and never fell below the highest of professional standards. He set the bar high and mentored so many that came under his charge. How do you loose a giant like him? I guess the bottom line is that he is serving now in heaven having heard our Lord say to him “ Well done thou good and faithful servant”.
Gary Fisher
January 10, 2021
I’ll never forget the first time Gene and I met. He was doing a ladder training class for his crew in the back of Station 1 and he thought I was a reporter doing a story on the FD. We had a great conversation with Gene explaining what we do and how we use ladders. We laughed about that for a long time. I learned quickly Gene was a man of honesty and integrity. I trusted him without reservation. Gene was all about doing the right thing, regardless of the situation. He was an excellent mentor, demonstrating as much patience as necessary, but had no time for incompetence. His focus was always the safety of his crew. Gene practiced the servant/leader mentality naturally. He was a grounded leader, with high expectations of his crew but also had a lot of fun at work. Gene was smart, intuitive, and had a natural curiosity making him an excellent firefighter and paramedic. Debbie was his rock and his family was the most important thing in his life. The fire service has lost one of its best.
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