Gene Henry

Irvin Eugene “Gene” Henry, the son of Clarence and Retha (Jury) Henry, was born on January 13, 1949 in Norton, Kansas.  He passed away on June 22, 2010, at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron, Nebraska, at the age of 61 years, 5 months and 9 days. 

Gene attended school in Norton and Long Island, Kansas.  At age 12 he started school in Almena and he graduated high school there.  That same summer he started working for the Rock Island Railroad.  This took him to Guthrie, Iowa where he met and married Becky Diddy.  To this union were born Rick and Jill Henry. In July 1968, Gene joined the U.S. Army, serving time in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in June of 1970.  Gene then worked for the Rock Island Railroad out of Fairbury until it disbanded.  On September 9, 2002, Gene and Lucille Gerdes were united in marriage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gene enjoyed many hobbies and had the skill to be successful at many of them.  Hunting, fishing, boating, trapshooting, construction and auction hopping just to name a few, were past times he enjoyed during the peak of his life.  He shared these hobbies and passions with many family members and countless friends.  The highlight of every year was the long spring weekend spent catfishing on the Republican River near where he grew up.  He relished the “Henry fishing trip” and what it stood for. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #10579 of Davenport, Nebraska. 

Preceding him in his death was his mother, Retha Henry.  He is survived by his wife, Lucille Henry of Davenport; his father, Clarence Henry of Almena, KS; children: Rick Henry and his wife, Shani of Colon, NE; and Jill Kerrigan and husband, Edward of Leadville, CO; grandchildren, Isaac and Emma Henry; brother, David Henry of Las Vegas, NV; sister, Kathy Neuberger and husband, Pat of Henderson, NV; as well as many other extended family members and friends.

Funeral Services:  Friday, June 25, 2010, at 2:00 PM at Christ's Lutheran Church, Davenport, Nebraska.

Interment: Davenport City Cemetery

Memorials: to the family's choice