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Balcom, Gene
Gene Balcom, 85, of Marion, died Monday, April 4, 2011, at Northbrook Care Center. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Mike Morgan of First United Methodist Church of Marion. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Gene is survived by his children, Jennie Balcom (Mark Glowacki) and Julie (Mark) Leonard, all of Des Moines, and Joni (Phil) Moeller of Marion; sister, Marilyn Johnson of Marion; grandchildren, Michael Moeller, and Gabriella and Hailee Leonard; and several nieces and nephews.
---- He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Eric; his wife, Marcia; and a sister, Shirley Wallace.
He was also preceded in death by a special niece, Anita Johnson Daniels, with whom he shared a birthday.
Gene was born June 17, 1925, in Caledonia, Ill., to Charles and Jennie Kvarme Balcom. The family moved to Marion in 1936, where Gene helped his parents run a farm and dairy delivery service. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, serving aboard the destroyer USS Preston as 1st Lieutenant j.g. Gene was employed at Square D as a mechanical engineer for over 32 years before his retirement.
Gene loved his travels in the Navy, where he spent time in both the Pacific and Mediterranean. He carried this forward to traveling with his family and visited all 50 states. He was an avid fisherman who made many trips to Canada with friends, and taught his girls and grandchildren how to fish. He loved to garden and had large vegetable and flower gardens for many years. He was also in league bowling with the Square D Breakers and won many tournaments.
He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 298 and First United Methodist Church of Marion.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Bell, and Julie and Jessie at St. Luke's Hospice for the supportive and compassionate care given to Gene and the family.
Memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous or St. Luke's Hospice.
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