Eugene Luke “Gene” Minarick, 98, of Snyder passed away Friday, March 29, 2024, at Bryan East Health in Lincoln. He was born December 20, 1925 on the farm near Snyder. to Joseph and Elizabeth “Betsey” (Chapman) Minarick.
Gene graduated from North Bend High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 14, 1945 to August 2, 1946 during World War II. He then returned to the family farm. He married Mary Baumert on May 2, 1951 at Aloys. Gene farmed with his brother Francis in the Webster area for 40 years and an additional 12 years before retiring in 1998.
He was an active member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Snyder where he served as a Lector and taught CCD classes for many years. He was a member of American Legion Post 340 of Morse Bluff and was the last surviving World War II veteran in the North Bend/Morse Bluff area. Gene served on the Webster School Board and was a Charter Member of the Knights of Columbus at North Bend.
Survived by daughters, Jane (Joe) Francis of Lincoln, Christine (Vaughn) Gross-Rhode of North Bend and Sister Mary Clare Minarick (School Sisters of Christ the King) of Lincoln; sons, Ted (Linda) Minarick of Morse Bluff, Jim (Ann) Minarick of North Bend and Steve (Sharen) Minarick of Morse Bluff; sister, Mary Konicek of Denver; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Baumert of Aloys, 19 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; sister, Rita Deppe and brother, Francis Minarick and infant grandson, Samuel Minarick.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. Leo Catholic Church in Snyder. Rev. Father Keith Rezac will officiate. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday with a Knights of Columbus Living Rosary at 7 , also at St. Leo Catholic Church in Snyder.
Private interment with military honors will be at Woodland Cemetery in North Bend.
Memorials are suggested to St. Leo Catholic Church or Morse Bluff Legion Post 340. Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.
