Obituary for Gene A. "Red" Hegbloom
Gene A. "Red" Hegbloom, 77,
of 200 E. Michigan Ave., Ironwood, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, in his home,
with his loving family by his side, following a courageous, 16-month battle with
stomach cancer. He was born May 15, 1933, in Rhinelander,
Wis., son of the late Vanner and Eva (Myers) Hegbloom, attended school in Saxon,
Wis., and graduated from Saxon High School in 1952. During and following high
school, he was employed as a meatcutter at the M eredith-Corrigan Co.in Saxon. Gene entered the U.S. Army on April 6, 1954,
serving stateside at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., and was honorably discharged on
April 5, 1956. Following his discharge, he returned to work at Meredith-Corrigan
Co. in Saxon, then moved to Mullen, Idaho, residing there from 1963 to 1965.
Returning to Ironwood, Gene worked at Erspamer's Supermarket in Hurley for three
years, at Talaska's Market in Ironwood, and at Stan's Big Dollar in Bessemer,
retiring in 1995. In his retirement, he worked part-time at Super One in
Ironwood, and most recently, at Sunday Lake Market in Wakefield. Gene was a member of Our Lady of Peace
Catholic Church in Ironwood, where he sang in the Men's Choir and the
Resurrection Choir. He was also a member and current adjutant of Mercier-Kero
American Legion Post 371 in Saxon. He loved watching all sports on television,
following his grandchildren in their sporting activities, and was a big Green
Bay Packers fan. He also enjoyed making banana bread for family and friends and
going to the casino. Gene's faith, love and kindness touched
everyone who knew him. He had a special sense of humor that he shared with all.
He will be deeply missed. On Sept. 28, 1957, he was married to Donna
Jean Bourdages of Saxon at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Saxon, by the Rev.
Walter Torkildson. Donna survives. Also surviving are two sons, John (Diane),
Ishpeming, and David (Lisa), Ramsay; two daughters, Wendy (Kirt) Grasso,
Montreal, Wis., and Kathy (Paul) Follett, Sun Prairie, Wis.; nine grandchildren,
Maria and Melissa Grasso, Cassie (Steven) Bluhm, Hannah Hegbloom, Matthew,
Jennifer and Brett Follett, and Joshua and Jessica Hegbloom; two brothers, Jim
(Elaine Jack), Saxon, and Vanner (Melva), Globe, Ariz.; an aunt, Eleanor
Hegbloom, Muskegon; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, James and Donna Bourdages,
Arbor Vitae, Wis., and Sharon and Jack Massoglia, Kenosha, Wis.; and numerous
nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Lori Jean Hegbloom, in 1958; and three sisters, Viola Swartz,
Cecelia "Punky" Sherrell, and Anna Mae Dennis. Out of respect for Gene's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, March 12, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by
the Mercier-Kero Saxon American Legion Post 371 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Spring inurnment will be in Lakeview Cemetery,
Saxon. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the
St. Joseph Family Room at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to Regional Hospice, 2101 Beaser Ave., Ashland, Wis. 54806, or the Our
Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St. Ironwood, Mich.
49938. To view Gene's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.
of 200 E. Michigan Ave., Ironwood, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, in his home,
with his loving family by his side, following a courageous, 16-month battle with
stomach cancer. He was born May 15, 1933, in Rhinelander,
Wis., son of the late Vanner and Eva (Myers) Hegbloom, attended school in Saxon,
Wis., and graduated from Saxon High School in 1952. During and following high
school, he was employed as a meatcutter at the M eredith-Corrigan Co.in Saxon. Gene entered the U.S. Army on April 6, 1954,
serving stateside at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., and was honorably discharged on
April 5, 1956. Following his discharge, he returned to work at Meredith-Corrigan
Co. in Saxon, then moved to Mullen, Idaho, residing there from 1963 to 1965.
Returning to Ironwood, Gene worked at Erspamer's Supermarket in Hurley for three
years, at Talaska's Market in Ironwood, and at Stan's Big Dollar in Bessemer,
retiring in 1995. In his retirement, he worked part-time at Super One in
Ironwood, and most recently, at Sunday Lake Market in Wakefield. Gene was a member of Our Lady of Peace
Catholic Church in Ironwood, where he sang in the Men's Choir and the
Resurrection Choir. He was also a member and current adjutant of Mercier-Kero
American Legion Post 371 in Saxon. He loved watching all sports on television,
following his grandchildren in their sporting activities, and was a big Green
Bay Packers fan. He also enjoyed making banana bread for family and friends and
going to the casino. Gene's faith, love and kindness touched
everyone who knew him. He had a special sense of humor that he shared with all.
He will be deeply missed. On Sept. 28, 1957, he was married to Donna
Jean Bourdages of Saxon at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Saxon, by the Rev.
Walter Torkildson. Donna survives. Also surviving are two sons, John (Diane),
Ishpeming, and David (Lisa), Ramsay; two daughters, Wendy (Kirt) Grasso,
Montreal, Wis., and Kathy (Paul) Follett, Sun Prairie, Wis.; nine grandchildren,
Maria and Melissa Grasso, Cassie (Steven) Bluhm, Hannah Hegbloom, Matthew,
Jennifer and Brett Follett, and Joshua and Jessica Hegbloom; two brothers, Jim
(Elaine Jack), Saxon, and Vanner (Melva), Globe, Ariz.; an aunt, Eleanor
Hegbloom, Muskegon; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, James and Donna Bourdages,
Arbor Vitae, Wis., and Sharon and Jack Massoglia, Kenosha, Wis.; and numerous
nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death
by a daughter, Lori Jean Hegbloom, in 1958; and three sisters, Viola Swartz,
Cecelia "Punky" Sherrell, and Anna Mae Dennis. Out of respect for Gene's wishes, cremation
has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Saturday, March 12, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in
Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will take place in the St.
Joseph Family Room at the church, where full military honors will be accorded by
the Mercier-Kero Saxon American Legion Post 371 Honor Guard. Luncheon will follow in the parish
hall. Spring inurnment will be in Lakeview Cemetery,
Saxon. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the
St. Joseph Family Room at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may
be made to Regional Hospice, 2101 Beaser Ave., Ashland, Wis. 54806, or the Our
Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student Program, 108 So. Marquette St. Ironwood, Mich.
49938. To view Gene's obituary online, sign the
guestbook and express condolences, visit
mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick
Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.