Eugene "Gene" Joseph Eggleston, 94, of La Porte, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 10, 2020.

  

Eugene was born August 25, 1925, to Joseph and Dora (Kershner) Eggleston in Elkhart, IN.

 

Gene was a member of The Greatest Generation.  He served in the US Coast Guard as a radio operator in the North Pacific Aleutian Islands Theater.  On June 9, 1946, he married Peggy Keller at La Porte First United Methodist Church in La Porte.  He and Peggy were blessed with four children; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and three great, great-grandchildren, whom he loved very much.

 

In 1960, Gene built his family home in Pleasant Township.  Through the years, he participated in the Lions Club, American Legion and the Johnson Township Gun Club.  He was a 4-H leader for 8 years and coached teams in the Kankakee Valley Little League.  He also served on the Pleasant Township Advisory Board and the Salem Cemetery Board.  

 

Gene was active in Salem Chapel UMC for over 40 years, contributing his carpentry skills to finishing a large part of their new church and fair buildings.  He served as a trustee and member of United Methodist Men for many years and especially enjoyed being a part of the work teams sponsored by the church.  He helped build a school in Sierra Leone and contributed to other church activities as well.  In recent years, he transferred his membership to the La Porte First United Methodist Church.

 

Gene retired as a 40-year finish carpenter with Midland Engineering Company in South Bend.  He was a member of the Carpenters Local #413 for 50 years.  In retirement, he spent pleasant hours fishing and hunting, building and remodeling various buildings in the neighborhood, and watching the Cubs, Colts, Bears, and IU Basketball.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; parents; sisters, Margaret Parker and Mildred Zellers; brothers, James and Harold Eggleston; grandchildren, Melissa and Chad Eggleston; daughters-in-law, Linda and Judy Eggleston; and son-in-law, Kevin Cubel. 

 

Surviving are his children, Susan Eggleston of New Carlisle, Dennis Eggleston of La Porte, Michael (Vikki Manogg) Eggleston of Schererville, and Patricia (Pat Whitney) Larson of La Porte; grandchildren, Sandra (David) Arndt, Kenneth (Andrea) Eggleston, Lindsey (Arne) Gabrielson, Christine Eggleston, Max Larson, and Maggie (William Masterson, III) Larson; great-grandchildren, Tori (Ethan) Parrish, Joshua Arndt, Morgan and Ryan Eggleston, Alexis Eggleston-Granato, Kayla, Blake, and Bryce Gabrielson, Jason Adkins, and Cassidy Radbel; great, great-grandchildren, Carson and Nora Parrish, and Jaxon Eggleston.

 

 

Gene will be missed by all who loved him and were blessed by his generosity and skills.  A great thank you to Dunes Hospice for excellent care in the last weeks.

 

Cremation has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, La Porte.

 

Due to the recent Mayoral Executive Order, anyone attending the visitation and/or service is required to wear a mask.

  

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service with military honors will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center.  Rev. Gene Flickinger will be officiating.

 

A time of visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Salem Cemetery.

 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Avenue, Valparaiso, IN  46383.

 

Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.cutlercares.com.