Slaman, Eugene 'The Duke'

Eugene “The Duke” Slaman

Gene, 84, was born July 20, 1927 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gene passed away peacefully to the Lord's House surrounded by his family on Sunday, June 3, 2012 after a long and courageously fought battle with heart disease while being cared for by loving hands at Ebeid Hospice Residence.

Gene was a resident of Sylvania, Ohio and lived in Toledo, Ohio for 61 years after moving from Cedar Rapids to marry Juanita Slaman, his wife of 60 years. Gene was a draftsman for the Dana Corporation for 36 years and a member of Dana Tadra. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and he was an active and dedicated member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral for 60 years, where he and his wife made many lifelong friends who became family.

Gene loved woodworking, creating wooden treasures in his “workshop”, treasures his family will cherish. He loved summer trips to Cedar Rapids to spend time and relive memories with his own five siblings and their growing families. Gene's first and primary love was making people laugh, never without his dossier of jokes, numbered with only the punch lines, tucked into a front shirt pocket. He could make anyone, young and old, smile in a heartbeat with those jokes. He loved poetry; a writer at heart, he wrote of the people and things he loved. Most of all, Gene loved his family, and he loved the Lord. He was truly a man of great faith.

Gene was preceded in death by his dear mother and father, Selma and Salome “Sam” Slaman. He is survived by his wife, Juanita (David) Slaman; his five siblings, Mary Nassif, Michael (Melana) Slaman, Catherine (Nick) Abodeely, Matilda Slaman, and Floyd (Marge) Slaman; and his two sons, David (Tina Shaheen) Slaman and Todd (Joyce) Slaman. He is dear “Giddo” to his grandchildren, Matthew (Angel) Slaman, Adam (fiance, Kristen Atchley) Slaman, Christie (Mike) Lukegord, and Brian Slaman; and he is proud great-Giddo to his great-granddaughter, Quinn Slaman. Gene is also survived by many special people who were family to him, including Carol Slaman, Cindy (Tom) Ritter, Jake (Rachel) Fuller, Dani Fuller, Jordan Fuller, Brenden Doran, and Tessa Helene Fuller, who will always think of Gene as her “Giddo” too. Additionally, Gene is survived by many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family and friends may call at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, OH Wednesday from 2 to 9 p.m. with a Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. There also will be visitation on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. at St. George Orthodox Cathedral, 3754 Woodley Rd. Toledo, OH 43606. Interment will follow in Toledo Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral.

Online condolences may be shared at .

Published June 6, 2012 in The Gazette