Eugene L. Willkomm

CASSVILLE – Eugene L. “Gene” Willkomm, age 80, of Cassville, passed away in the loving arms of Darlene, his wife of 58 years, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster.  He was born on December 8, 1942, in Prairie du Chien, the son of Lawrence and Josephine (Kirschbaum) Willkomm.  Gene graduated Cassville High School in 1960 and served in the United States Army.  On March 20, 1965, Gene married Darlene R. Cadwell at St. Charles Catholic Church in Cassville.  He attended Barber School and became a barber.  Gene always told his children that the Beatles ruined his barber career, so he took employment at John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works, where he retired after thirty years.  He was a member of the Mumm-Welsh American Legion Post No. 352 of Cassville. Gene was an avid outdoorsman and considered the woods his church; it was in a tree stand where he prayed and often to his dearly missed son-in-law, George. Gene will be remembered as a trophy buck hunter and would talk endlessly with anybody anywhere that had the same fever.  Driving home from hunting, he would practice his favorite love songs and melt hearts singing them later at family gatherings. Parkinson’s robbed Gene of all his favorite hobbies, except dancing.  Darlene was able to hold him up long enough to dance until his time on earth ran short.  Gene so loved his children, grandsons, and new great-grandson. He fought a hard battle to stay, but his body couldn’t keep up.  Gene will be forever missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Survivors include his loving wife, Darlene; son, Eric (Stacey); daughter, Angela (Bob Smith) Pebworth; grandsons, Chase (Josie Filipiak) Pebworth, Aidan (friend, Amber) and Cooper (friend, Alice) Willkomm; great-grandson, Mac Aubrey Pebworth; his sister, Carol Wiest; his brother, Larry (Barb) Willkomm; in-laws: Don (Linda) Montanye and Jim (Charlene) Cadwell; step-father-in-law, John Schnorrenberg; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Dick Blodgett and Eugene Wiest; his sister, JoAnn Blodgett; his mother-in-law, Rose Schnorrenberg and father-in-law, Junior Cadwell; and his beloved nephew, Scott Cadwell.

 In keeping with Gene’s wishes, there will be no funeral services.  Graveside services with military honors accorded by the Mumm-Welsh American Legion Post No. 352 of Cassville will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Cassville with Pastor Mark Hoehne officiating. A Celebration of Gene’s Life will be held Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at J&J Sandbar, 1110 E Amelia St., Cassville.  Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Cassville is assisting the family.