Obituary of Gene A Engeseth

Gene A. Engeseth, a kind, gentle compassionate father and husband died at St. Luke’s Hospital on Nov. 28 after suffering a catastrophic stroke. He was 86 years old. Gene was born in 1929 in Duluth, MN the youngest of 11 children to Peter and Signe Engeseth (Johannasen). He entered the army in 1952 and served as a medic in the Korean War. This was a short, but extremely dramatic experience in his life. He worked in the landscaping business for several years, including co-owning a landscaping business. Later he went to school as a sheet-metal apprentice and worked in that area for years, prior to becoming a maintenance worker. It was this job that allowed him to combine many of his talents and his love of working with people. After 19 years he opened another successful business – Gene’s Septic. Gene was into outdoor activities; he loved fishing and deer hunting. He anxiously awaited the beginning of fishing, ice fishing and deer hunting seasons. He was also an avid sports fan and he was actively involved in car restoration, with his most recent being a 1932 Ford Model T coup. In his younger days he also was a stock car racer, #73. To all that knew him, Gene was a gentle, kind person who loved to be around other people. He was married to Jeri (Swor) for 59 years and they had one daughter, Nicki. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters (Madeline Larrivy, Margaret Koenig, Lilliian Boreen) and 5 brothers (Johnny, Ole, Norman, Walter, and Karl). Immediate family surviving include his wife and daughter, his son-in-law, Bill Helferich and two grandchildren, Earnest and Emma, his sister, Lenore and his brother Howard, in addition to many extended family members, including many nieces and nephews. The family thanks the staff of St. Luke’s Hospital for the care they provided Gene. Gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 pm until the 3 pm memorial service on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 in Cremation Society of Minnesota 4100 Grand Ave. Duluth, MN. Services entrusted to Cremation Society of Minnesota 218-624-5200