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Gene Shebetka
GENE TUNNEY SHEBETKA
Cedar Rapids
Gene Tunney Shebetka, 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, June 12, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 15, with visitation one hour prior, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Burial: St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, Fairfax. Military honors will be presented at the graveside.
Gene was born Sept. 6, 1929, in Oxford, Iowa, to Martin and Lillian (Schropp) Shebetka. He grew up in Oxford, graduating from Oxford High School in 1949. Gene was a meticulous carpenter and started working for Nagle Lumber Co. in Iowa City after he graduated. He volunteered to enlist at the age of 20 with his hometown buddies and served in the Army 937 Field Artillery from 1950 to 1952 in the Korean War. Gene returned home to marry the love of his life, Mary Lou Broz. They were married 45 years until she died in 1999. Together they raised five children, Steve, Jim, William, Sue and Ann. Gene was a carpenter for the Cedar Rapids school system and retired after 25 years of service. He was a proud member of the Fairfax American Legion Post 572 for 65 years. Gene proudly carried the flag in many parades and sporting events. He was a member of the Fairfax St. Patrick's Catholic Church for 58 years until it closed. He was a current member of St. Ludmila Catholic Church.
Gene is survived by his children, Steve (Lori) Shebetka, Jim (Jodie) Shebetka and William (Kelley) Shebetka; grandchildren, Mandy (Matt), Amy (Justin), Stephanie (Derek), Austin, Jordan (Emily), Jennifer (Travis), Felicia (Chad), Bo and Kale; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou; parents, Martin and Lillian; daughters, Sue Hill and Ann Anderson; granddaughter, Melissa; and sisters, Evelynn Gegenheimer, Eileen Bryant and Dorothy Hospodarsky.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Iowa Veterans Home, 1301 Summit St., Marshalltown, IA 50158; and the University of Iowa Cancer Research, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA 52242.
Please share a memory of Gene at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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