Wilbur Gene Paris' Obituary
Wilbur Gene Paris, age 73 of Centerville, Iowa passed away Monday, February 09, 2015 at home surrounded by loved ones.
Gene was born on the family farm east of Moravia, Iowa on August 12, 1941, the son of Claude and Bertha (Morrison) Paris. He graduated from Moravia High School with the class of 1958.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of seventeen on November 10, 1958. Gene was honorably discharged from the Air force in 1962. He then joined the Iowa National Guard in Des Moines, serving his country faithfully as a flight commander. Gene retired from the Iowa National Guard in 1972, serving a ten year career in the guard. He continued to honor his country as a several year member of the Unionville, Iowa American Legion, Post #407.
Gene was united in marriage to Brenda Joyce Frazier in Des Moines, Iowa in 1967. Gene and Brenda celebrated forty seven years of marriage to one another.
He opened up the Paris Yamaha Dealership in Centerville in 1972. Gene owned and operated his business for several years, retiring in 1995. Gene subsequently took a substitute position with the Moravia, Iowa Post office, serving his community as a mail carrier for several years. Moreover, Gene worked his mail route up until four months ago when he could no longer walk. This is just one example that demonstrated that when Gene did something, he put his whole heart into it. Throughout his life, Gene continued to amaze his family and friends how he could bounce back from illnesses over and over again.
Gene was a quiet man who loved to laugh and listen to other people's stories. He was an entrepreneur from starting a motorcycle business to establishing a snow mobile club, named the ""Rathbun Snowmobile Riders Club."" Along with his son Kevin, Gene volunteered nearly thirty years to maintaining the snowmobile trails at Lake Rathbun. Through his dedication of almost three decades of service to maintaining the trails, Gene became only the third recipient to receive the heartland award by the Army Corp of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri. From starting a motorcycle business to living his snowmobiling passion, Gene was able to do things in his life that some only dream of doing.
Gene did have other hobbies in life other than snowmobiling, such as watching NASCAR, attending family and class reunions, and most importantly, spending time with his family.
Gene is survived by his beloved wife of forty seven years, Brenda Paris of Centerville, Iowa; two children, Kimberly Berry of Centerville, Iowa and Kevin Gene (special friend, Melinda Wireman) of Centerville, Iowa; a grandchild, Jeremy Berry of Centerville, Iowa; four siblings, Peggy Helen Luse of Lacona, Iowa, Walt (Fern) Paris of Moravia, Iowa, Connie Judge of Des Moines, Iowa and Wayne (Linda) Paris of Moravia, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Arlene Stevenson.
Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, February 14, 2015 at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville with Reverend Terry Chapman officiating. Inurnment in the Unionville Cemetery, Unionville, Iowa will be held at a later date. Military rites will be provided by the Unionville American Legion, Post # 407. A visitation will be held on Friday at Lange Funeral Home, with the family greeting friends from 5-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to either HCI Hospice or to the family of Gene Paris and may be given to Lange Funeral Home, 1900 S. 18th St., Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Visitation
February 13, 2015 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Lange Funeral Home 1900 S. 18th St. Centerville, IA (641) 856-2000
Funeral Service
February 14, 2015 10:00 AM
Lange Funeral Home 1900 S. 18th St. Centerville, IA (641) 856-2000
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