GENE ANDERSON

Gene Anderson, age 78, of Elburn, passed away surrounded by the love and prayers of his family, Friday, October 21, 2022.

He was born March 7, 1944, in St. Charles, IL, to proud parents, Alfred and Ruth Anderson.

Gene grew up in Elburn and attended local schools while working hard to become an Eagle Scout, which he did in 1959. He graduated from Kaneland High School with the class of 1962 after making a name for himself on the football and basketball team. He worked for many years at his great-uncle Richie Benson’s restaurant and Batavia landmark, Twin Elms on Main St.

He continued his education at DeVry and later attended Northern Illinois University in the evenings, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering. 

Gene and Brenda Runkle knew each other in high school, but love didn’t bloom until a few years later when their two hearts became one on June 10, 1967. They began their new life together in Skokie and Niles for about a year before moving to Batavia. Ten years of memories later, they moved once more to a home they built in Elburn. Grief came to call in 2016 when Brenda passed into the arms of her Savior. As time passed, Gene found another whose heart was damaged by grief, and together, Gene and Diane Bergquist helped each other heal, find comfort, grace and love.

Gene worked with fiber optics for most of his career and created seven patents, cementing not only his accomplishments but his name within the annals of electrical engineering. He worked at Belden, Timed Fiber Communications, and Andrew, among others over his career before retiring, albeit gradually, in 2014, but never really stopped working completely.

Gene was a proud member of the Elburn Lion’s Club, Rotary and Toast Masters.

Gene’s imagination often took flight, but there was a time when it took off literally with Gene as the pilot of his RC airplanes in St. Charles, as member of the Fox Valley Aeromodelers, as well as the time he fashioned an outfit he was sure would hold him aloft as he jumped out of the second-floor window of his home. He loved to travel to Airshows anywhere they were held and took in many Steam Shows as well.  Many of planes he built himself and spoke of the meticulous detail and intense focus that not only went into each plane, but also any woodworking project that piqued his interest. Gene was a jokester, even into his last days, keeping smile and laughter in good supply. Gatherings of family gave him an opportunity to catch up on all the details and plans of everyone. His greatest love was his granddaughters and was in attendance to almost every dance performance or softball game on the schedule. If you couldn’t be there in person, you knew he was supporting them online.  The outdoors held his fascination and gave him a peace that no other place could, especially if involved casting a line and testing his skill and luck to bring in the biggest catch. Gene caught the traveling bug early, enjoying international travel to Austria and Germany among others, and made stops in a myriad of states, making memories at every stop. Those memories and more are the treasure we get to keep. Although Gene is gone, he lives on in our hearts.  

He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie (Rob) Stevenson and their two daughters, Lily and Avery Stevenson; seven siblings: Darrell (Deb) Anderson, Sheila (Bob) Gee, David (Georgeann) Anderson, Loanne (Keith) Weller, Ione (Greg) Martin, Twyla (Lee) Strom and Grace Anderson; his special companion and best friend, Diane Bergquist; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a countryside full of friends.

He now joins his parents, his wife Brenda and one son in infancy, Timothy Scott Anderson.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2022, with a funeral service to follow at 7 p.m., at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will follow Wednesday, October 26, at 11 a.m. at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery, Elburn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America in honor of his Eagle Scout status, https://donations.scouting.org or to Elburn United Church of Christ, 100 E. Shannon St., Elburn, IL 60119. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.