Gene Allen Whitford

STOUGHTON - Gene Allen “Wings” Whitford, age 71, of Stoughton, Wis., peacefully passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at home.

Gene was born on July 19, 1954, the son of Kenneth “Windy” and Helen (Wickboldt) Whitford. He was one of seven, and always had a special bond with his family. Music was a big part of the Whitford family. Gene loved listening to his dad, “Windy,” a band member of “The Goose Island Ramblers,” and sharing those fond memories with others. He even started a fan club through social media to keep their music alive.

Gene graduated from Stoughton High School in 1972. He met his wife, Debbie Dyreson, in 1975, and they were married in April of 1980. Together they embarked on a journey to start their own business with Gene’s love of printing as the foundation. From the basement of their first home, they grew that business, expanding over the years, to what officially became The Printing House. This kept him busy up until retirement. We’re sure he’d say owning a business brought its share of ups and downs, but most importantly it allowed him the flexibility to make time for family, embark on travel adventures, and live life to its fullest.   

He was a proud and supportive father never to be missed at his kids’ various activities in their younger years, and at his grandchildren’s events in more recent years. He had a love for many things outdoors, and shared those passions with friends and family-hunting weekends up north, golfing, deep sea fishing adventures in Florida, snowmobile trips, and countless hours spent on the lake and around the campfire at the family cottage in Woodruff.  He was an avid Packers and Brewers fan, rarely missing a game.

Gene is survived by his wife of 45 years, Debbie; children, Kevin (Tara) Whitford and Kelli (Ryan) O’Donnell; grandchildren, Aslynn and Alena Whitford, and Parker and Sawyer O’Donnell; siblings, Kenny Whitford, Gail Wagner and Joyce (Gomer) Johnson; and sister-in-law, Julie Whitford; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Eddie (Gayle) Dyreson, Shelley (Keith) Doris, Tommy (Colleen) Dyreson and Sharon Dyreson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Windy and Helen; siblings, Winston Whitford, Bonnie Riddle and Faith Kind-Weum; sister-in-law, Sharon Whitford; and brothers-in-law, Dick Wagner and Tim Dyreson.

Gene was no stranger to health scares over the years and his wishes were for his body to be donated to the UW Body Donor Program in hopes that he could help further the knowledge, research and learning process for those in the medical field.  

At Gene’s request no service will be held. We will be having a Celebration of Life on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at HALVERSON'S EVERYTHING NICE, 1965 Barber Drive, Stoughton.  

The family would like to thank the cardiovascular division and ER staff at St. Mary’s, doctors and nurses at Dean Clinic, Stoughton Area EMS, and ER staff at Stoughton Hospital for the care that kept Gene going all these years, and the Agrace HospiceCare team for their care and compassion in his final days.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590