Eugene Blood
Eugene Blood, 87, of Wisconsin Dells, died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Golden Living Center in Wisconsin Dells.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church Gymnasium in Wisconsin Dells with Monsignor Felix Oehrlein officiating. Burial will be at Spring Grove Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells.
Visitation will be held at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church Gymnasium on Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Military rites will be provided by the Harold B. Larkin American Legion Post 187, Wisconsin Dells.
Eugene was born Jan. 12, 1922 on the family farm in Juneau County that was homesteaded in 1846 by his great grandfather, the son of Willard and Jeanette (Clark) Blood. He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in 1940 and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Nebraska; Brazil; North Africa and Italy and his position was navigator/radio operator aboard the B-24 Liberator in the 15th Air Wing. He successfully flew in 32 combat missions over Nazi controlled positions that many soldiers didn’t return from and later was honorably discharged.
In October 1943 he married Jean Cahoon and two children were born to this union. She preceded him in death and Eugene married Ethelyn Morse in December 2004. Eugene worked for many years for Riverview Boat Company and also built railroad cars for the Great Riverside and Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells.
He was a member of the American Legion and VFW posts in Wisconsin Dells and had served as commander of both organizations and attended many military funerals for veterans. His favorite hobbies were gardening, fishing, hunting and dancing.
Eugene is survived by his wife, Ethelyn; a son, Rick (Christine) of Wisconsin Dells; a daughter, Jayne (Mike) Belsky of Necedah; a sister, Judy (Harold) Soma of Wisconsin Dells; grandchildren, Erin, Kristie, Ben and Kurt; and four great-grandchildren. He is further survived by step-children, Wallace Roderick of Portage, and Sherrie Roderick of Brandon, Fla; step-grandchildren, Tom, Sara and Wallace II; and three step-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; brother, Robert, and sisters, Marge Ennis, Alice Giles and infant Jeanette Blood.
The Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells, assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.