Eugene 'Gene' E. Whitenburg

Eugene “Gene” E. Whitenburg, 86 of Samaria, MI, died Sunday, December 30, 2018, in Ebeid Hospice Residence. Born September 25, 1932, in Toledo, OH, he was the son of John and Elsie (Striggow) Whitenburg. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he married Patricia E. Venia on January 22, 1955. She preceded her in death on August 30, 2018. Gene retired from the Monroe County Drain Commission as a supervisor after 25 years of service. Prior, he worked for 27 years at the former Schmidt’s Meat Packing in Toledo. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Temperance, MI. He held many offices and was a charter member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Council 8902 – Temperance MI, and member of the 4th Degree Raisin River Assembly 488 – Monroe MI. Gene coached and umpired for the 3B Baseball and was a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 93. You could find Gene at any of his kid’s or grandchildren’s sporting events and was avid fan of the Detroit Tiger’s and Bedford Wrestling.
He is survived by his loving, children, Denise Goerlich, Diane (Dave) Scott, Kevin (Dawn) Whitenburg and Kristine (Alan) Ortman; brother, Clifford (Peggy) Whitenburg, sister, Leota Gunn; grandchildren, Eric Bair, Bridget Dombrowski, Jena Donnelly, Nathaniel, Nicholas and Macy Whitenburg, Alex, Adam, Kurtis Ortman, Liesa Goerlich, Christopher Goerlich,14 great grandchildren and canine friend, Buddy. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Michael Bair, Son-in-law, Rolf Goerlich; brothers, Robert, Art, Paul and Franklin Whitenburg and Sisters, Gladys Giese and Marilyn Burkholder.
Visitation will be from 3-8 pm, Friday, January 4, 2019, at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Rd. (at Jackman) Temperance, MI, where the Rosary will be prayed by the Knights of Columbus, 8902 at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, January 5, 2018, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 8330 Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI, where he will lie in state after 10:00 am. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus, 8902. www.pawlakfuneralhome.com