In Loving Memory

Gene David Wrege (80)

DOB: Feb 8, 1943 - Holland, Pipestone, Minnesota
DOD: May 24, 2023 - Sioux Falls, Lincoln, South Dakota
Burial: Jun 5, 2023 - New Woodlawn Cemetery - Pipestone, Pipestone, Minnesota

OBITUARY
Gene David Wrege, age 80, passed away on May 24, 2023, at home surrounded by his family due to complications of kidney failure and pancreatic cancer.

Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Monday, June 5, 2023 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Pipestone, Minn.

He was born on February 8, 1943, in Holland, Minn. to Alfred and Ida (Harkema) Wrege. He graduated from Ruthton High School.

He married Rosanne Marie (Wieneke) at St. Adrian Catholic Church on Jan. 31, 1970 in Adrian, Minn., and made their home in Pipestone, Minn.

Gene worked in construction most of his life. He worked on building single family homes, multi housing units, one of the many Sanford Hospital additions, installing the woodwork in boats for Bayliner Marine. He later got a degree in Multi Housing Maintenance with a Boiler Certification. They moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. in 1994 where he was the maintenance man for two large apartment complexes for several years. He then worked as a custodian for the Sioux Falls School District until his retirement.

He was a member of the Experimental Airplane Association (EAA) and built his own Ultralight Ragwing Airplane. He volunteered yearly during the local EAA club Pancake Feed every summer in Tea, S.D. during the Hot Air Balloon races when they were held there. He enjoyed volunteering in his son's Boy Scout Troop especially during the one-week camp trip held yearly at Lake Shetek, Minn. He and his son both enjoyed hunting upland game birds together. He also enjoyed fishing and camping with his family, especially his daughter and granddaughter with Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne, Minn. being the one they loved to visit the most in his later years. They did spend quite a bit of time staying at Lake Herman and Walker's Point State Parks near Madison, S.D. also. He loved making his own wine and beer and sharing it with family and friends. He also enjoyed watching high school and college sports on TV especially basketball and volleyball. He had a passion for World War II airplanes, especially the P-51 Mustang, along with model railroading and old turn of the century steam engines. He made many wooden children's toys that many still enjoy today along with furniture such as bookshelves, tables, etc. He enjoyed watching the art creations of his daughter come to life with just paint and a hair dryer, a paintbrush, or any other medium at her disposal. He was also proud to see his granddaughter had the same talent in art. He also enjoyed old westerns and war movies.

He is survived by his daughter, Holly; son, Stuart; granddaughter, Sierra Rose and friend Timothy Hook, all of Sioux Falls, S.D.; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Pape of Pipestone, Minn.; Dale (Mary) Wieneke, Joe (Jolene) Wieneke; sister-in-law, Sandra Wieneke of Adrian, Minn.; sister-in-law, Kay Greve of Sioux Falls, S.D. and sister-in-law Mary Jean Wehr of Worthington, Minn.; sister-in-law, JoAnn (Bruce) Amundson of Miltona, Minn. and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Rosanne; his parents; siblings, Albert (Darlene), Robert (Mary) and Marvin (Pat) Wrege, Doris (Alvin) Smidt, Janet (Otto) Matson and Barbara Pape; brothers-in-law, John, Bruce and Richard Wieneke; several nieces and nephews.

(Miller Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, S.D.)