Eugene (Gene) E. Crisman

Crisman, Eugene E. MCFARLAND – Eugene E. Crisman, rural McFarland, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014. Gene (also known to his friends as Cris) was born to Fred and Blanche (Harris) Crisman, on Aug. 21, 1929, in Richland Center, but soon moved west with his family. They lived briefly in South Dakota and then bought a ranch near Sundance, Wyo., where they settled permanently and where Gene grew up, working the ranch with his father. He attended a country school, then high school in Sundance, riding his beloved horse, Rex, to town through the snowdrifts in winter when the roads became impassible for vehicles. He spent his junior year of high school in Richland Center, where he met the girl he would later marry, and returned to Sundance for his senior year, graduating in 1947. Gene was to attend the University of Wyoming in the fall of 1947, but an automobile accident that summer left his father unable to work, and instead of going to school, he stayed home and ran the ranch until his father was again well enough to take it over. Gene enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and made it a career. He served aboard cruisers, repair ships and destroyers, making several around the world cruises and taking part in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Blockade. He was also a Navy recruiter in the Portage area for three years. Upon retirement from the Navy, he returned with his family to Wisconsin and took a position with Wisconsin Bell, retiring from the company in 1989. Gene was involved in volunteer work through the Telephone Pioneers, of which he was a member, and with Habitat for Humanity. He was a member of the American Legion and the Navy Reserve, and was a plank owner of the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was constantly involved in some building project, either for his family or as a favor for someone else. Traveling with his wife and dogs was high on his list of favorite things to do. Other favorites included bowling, fishing (especially on Cliff Lake in Canada) and hunting (especially in Wyoming with old friends). He enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, babysitting when they were little, riding the ATV with them when they were older and taking them on hunting and fishing trips. Gene is survived by his two sons; Michael (Janet) of Belleville and Kelly of Milwaukee; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife and soulmate of 58 years, Irma Lou; his only daughter, Gigi; and two sisters, Pat Moreno and Carol Ruiz. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL HOME, 1358 Hwy. 51 N. at Jackson St., Stoughton, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Burial at Highland Memory Gardens with full military honors, will be private. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. It was Gene’s wish that in place of flowers, his friends make a donation in his memory to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children in Memphis Tenn. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation Care 1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson (608)873-4590