Eugene "Gene" Wenner

Eugene “Gene” Wenner, age 88 of St. Peter died Sunday, September, 11, 2016 at Oaklawn Health Care Center in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am Friday, September 16, 2016 at the Church of St. Peter in St. Peter with burial at Calvary Cemetery, St. Peter. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 Thursday and will continue one hour prior to the service Friday. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Eugene Clement Wenner was born on January 28, 1928 in Mankato to Wendell and Anna (Hiniker) Wenner. He was raised in rural Mapleton and moved with his family at 17 to farm in rural St. Peter. He joined the US Army and served in Germany during the Korean Conflict. On July 20, 1953 he was united in marriage to Betty June Hoffman at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Peter.

Gene spent his life farming before retiring in 1991 and then kept busy driving both school bus and coach bus. He had a passion for driving school bus, and made connections with the students who always had hugs for “Grandpa Gene”. He enjoyed St. Peter School athletics and watching his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participate in their various activities. He was a member of the Church of St. Paul in Nicollet, the Knights of Columbus and the Nicollet American Legion.

Left to remember Gene are his wife of 63 years, Betty; Children: Marlene (Craig) Tolzman, Keith (Helen), Kevin (Marcia), Brian (Deb), and Kim (Tim) Wilking; Grandchildren: Jill (Alex) , Erin (Bo), Drew (Ashley), Jodi (Dave), Dan (Shelley), Ryan (Brenna), Jennifer (Brian), Jeff (Ruanatta), Molly (Nate), Riley, Joey, Seth, Sam, Chet (Sabrina) and Tori; 19 great grandchildren; 2 sisters and 6 brothers. He was preceded in death by grandsons Jacob (1991) and Trae (1993) Wilking.