JAMES EUGENE “Gene” BRUMBAUGH
Feb. 21, 1945 – March 20, 2012

James Eugene “Gene” Brumbaugh, age 67, a long time Park Rapids, MN area resident, passed away peacefully at the St. Josephs Hospital in Park Rapids with his wife, Charlene at his side in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
Gene was born on February 21, 1945 in Escondido, CA to Glenn and Irene (Cooper) Brumbaugh. As an infant he moved with his family to Minnesota who returned to the Park Rapids area. He attended the Park Rapids Public schools, graduating with the Class of 1963. As a young man, Gene entered the United States Navy where he proudly served his country during the Viet Nam War. Following his honorable discharge, Gene returned to Park Rapids where he gained employment driving school bus. On May 12, 1968, Gene was united in marriage to Charlene M. Hensel in Park Rapids. This marriage was blessed with three children: Joe, Willie and Krista. The young couple made their first home in Virginia, MN where Gene worked in the iron mines. Later they returned to Park Rapids where Gene began an 18 year career working as a metal fabricator for the ZMC Manufacturing Co. In the early 1980’s Gene attended the Detroit Lakes Area Vocational-Technical College where he studied diesel mechanics. In 1988, he began working for the Gas Service Company in Park Rapids delivering propane throughout the area for twenty years until his health caused him to take early retirement. Gene was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He enjoyed competing with his son, Joe in numerous fishing tournaments and also enjoyed their trips to South Dakota hunting deer. Gene was especially fond of recalling their hunting trips through stories with family and friends. Gene was kind, quiet and soft-spoken and will be remembered as a hardworking and gentle man. He was a homebody and a do-it-yourselfer. He especially enjoyed country music and watching old westerns. He was gifted in working with his hands mounting deer antlers and making fish decoys. Most of all, Gene will be remembered for his devotion to his wife and family.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife for the past 44 years, Charlene of Park Rapids; his daughter, Krista (Bill) Wynn of Ironton, MN; two sons: Joe (Angela) Brumbaugh of Park Rapids and Willie also of Park Rapids; his four grandchildren: Cody and Caitlin Brumbaugh and Hailey and Cadence Wynn; his mother, Irene (Walter) Willenbring of Park Rapids; 2 sisters: Carole Palmer of Ponca City, OK and Debbie (Dave) Hacker of Menahga; brother, Jerry Brumbaugh of Park Rapids; as well as nephews, a niece, other relatives and many friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his father and his brother-in-law, Virgil Palmer.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday, March 26, 2012 at the Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids with Rev. Lee Kantonen officiating. The organist will be Linda Szuszitsky. A special recorded musical tribute of “On the Wings of a Snow White Dove” will be played. The congregational hymns will be: “Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace”. The urnbearers will be: Wayne Moser, Terry Rinderneck, Dave Hacker and Chris Niemeyer. The honorary urnbearers will be: Ken Duncanson, Clyde Zirkle and his 4 grandchildren: Cody, Caitlin, Hailey and Cadence. Military honors will be conducted by the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 of Park Rapids. Inurnment will be held at the Arago-Evergreen-Clover Cemetery north of Park Rapids at a later date. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM Sunday, March 25 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and again Monday morning beginning one hour prior to the services at the church. Following the service a luncheon will be provided for all.