Brunscheen, Eugene 'Gene'

Eugene “Gene” Brunscheen, 62, of Wyoming, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Hallmar at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after a battle with cancer.

In accordance with Gene's wishes, he has been cremated and the family will greet friends from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 at the Barn in Calkins Square in Wyoming, Iowa. His wishes for a celebration of life will be held Sunday, July 29, 2012 at the Wyoming Fairgrounds.

Lahey Funeral & Cremation Services in Wyoming is in charge of arrangements.

Gene was born July 29, 1949, the son of Donald and Cecelia (Lasack) Brunscheen. He was a graduate of the Midland class of 1967. Gene married Shirlee Jansen on May 29, 1971. Gene was a lifelong farmer. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to the casino, playing cards, tractor pulling, showing cattle himself as well as being involved with his daughters' show cattle, NASCAR races, Canadian fishing trips in the pink bus, grilling steaks on his homemade grill and serving his special recipe pink lemonade. He took pride in building the tractor pull tracks for various fairs in Iowa.

Gene was serving as the third Brunscheen generation president of the Wyoming Fair Association, having been a director since high school. In 2007 he was honored to be chosen as Grand Marshal of the Wyoming Fair parade. He was serving as a director on the Great Jones County Fair Board, being selected as “Friend of the Fair” in 2004. He was a member of the Iowa Tractor Pulling Association, serving as secretary/treasurer in 1982-83, having been inducted into the 2008 Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Wyoming Pioneers 4-H Club, Jones County Cattlemen, and the Jones County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife, Shirlee; two daughters, Lisa (Todd) Rickels and Kris (Lucas) Gobeli; granddaughters, Kacie and Paige Rickels, and baby Gobeli due June 6; a sister, Teresa (David) Tobiason; niece and goddaughter, Bailey Gray; mother-in-law, Edna Jansen; brother-in-law, Gary (Joyce) Jansen; niece, Tammy (Jamie) McAllister; and nephew, Terry (Selita) Jansen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law, Daryl Jansen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Midland Ambulance, Wyoming Fire Department, or the Wyoming Fair Association.

Thank you to the nurses and staff of Hallmar and Hospice of Mercy for their compassionate care and support of Gene and his family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Published April 17, 2012 in The Gazette