Eugene ‘Gene’ Reicks, 82

Dec. 4, 1935 —

June 23, 2018

 

Spillville - Eugene Reicks, age 82, of Spillville, Iowa, died on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Spillville, on June 27, 2018, with Rev. Robert Gross and Deacon Tyler Raymond presiding.

Military rites were provided by American Legion Clarence Bily Post 467, with interment at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in Spillville.  

Eugene “Gene” Lloyd Reicks was born on Dec. 4, 1935, the son of Edward J. and Viola A. (Reinhardt) Reicks in Cresco, Iowa. He graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic School in Cresco.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955, took basic training at Parks Air Force Base, San Jose, Calif., then transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas, for aircraft and engine training. He was assigned to the 55th Air Refueling Squadron at Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kan., where he received specialized training on the Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker refueling airplane. Gene served as Crew Chief on the KC-97 until November 1958 with overseas duty at Harmen AFB in Newfoundland, Goose Bay AFB in Labrador, Thule AFB in Greenland, Yokota AFB in Japan, Hickman AFB in Hawaii and Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. After being released from active duty, he served in the United States Air Force Reserve until January 1963, when he was honorably discharged. 

On Sept. 9, 1961, Gene was united in marriage to Margaret M. (Peggy) Fisher at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville. They became the parents of two children, Rodney Eugene and Darcy Renee, and grandparents of four. 

Gene was employed in the printing industry for 51 years. He worked at the Cresco Times Plain Dealer until 1969, when he transferred to Graphics Inc. in Calmar, Iowa. At Graphics, he was pressroom foreman and then plant manager until he retired in December 2000. He also owned and operated Ye Olde Printshoppe, a specialty printing company he ran as a hobby using antique letterpress and offset equipment. 

Dedicated to community service, Gene served on the St. Wenceslaus Church council, was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and was an active member of the American Legion Clarence Bily Post 467 in Spillville. In the Legion, he held the local positions of Chaplain, Vice Commander & Treasurer and Adjutant. At the district level, he served as Vice Commander, Sergeant-at-Arms, Chaplain, District Historian and District Commander, and at the state level he was elected Historian, Department Vice Commander and State Department Vice Chairman of Community Service. 

Additionally, Gene served as city clerk and city councilman in Spillville. 

He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren, traveling, visiting area casinos and attending the annual EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wis.

Gene is survived by his wife, Peggy Reicks of Spillville; children, Rodney (Lisa) Reicks of Rochester, Minn. and Darcy (Daniel) Bulger of Kasson, Minn.; grandchildren, Zachary Bulger and Jacob Bulger of Kasson and Julia Reicks and Elizabeth Reicks of Rochester; sisters, Joan (Jim) Fisher of Spillville and Sharon (Carroll) Gossman of Canton, Minn.; brother, Keith (Naydene) Reicks of Ridgeway, Iowa; brother-in-law Jim (Joan) Fisher of Spillville; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Vrba and Dolores Pecinovsky, both of Protivin; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Viola (Reinhardt) Reicks; his father and mother-in-law, Arthur W. and Mary B. (Vachta) Fisher; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert (Grace) Reicks and Donald (Cheryl) Reicks; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mildred (Joseph) Pecinovsky and Elaine (Myles) Rommes; and brothers-in-law, Ralph Pecinovsky and Alton Vrba.