Gene Shogren

Gene Shogren, 86, of Waterville, IA, died Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, IA. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 17th, at 1:00 PM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, IA, with Pastor Eddie Cabrera officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing, IA. Friends may call from 11:00 AM until the time of the service on Friday at Martin Funeral Home.

Gene Shogren was born August 26, 1932, in rural Lansing, IA, the son of Alden and Agnes (Erickson) Shogren. He attended Center #3 country school in Village Creek Township and graduated from Waukon High School in 1950. Gene served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956, and was stationed in Alaska until he was honorably discharged from the service. On March 20, 1956, he married Joyce Evelyn Van Brocklin in Garrison, IA. They farmed together with Gene's brother LaVern and his wife Judy in the Village Creek area raising crops, dairy and beef cows. Gene was ahead of the times in soil preservation, land conservation, and agricultural technology.

He loved working on machinery and could fix anything with a pair of pliers. Gene loved John Deere tractors, and he loved fishing, always had a dog by his side, and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, including to Wisconsin to see Dave and his family. Gene would always greet you with a handshake that would leave your fingers tingling, or a few hearty slaps on the back. He was an appreciative person, and never took life for granted. His love for his family was clear with lots of notes signed, Love Old Buck, and tractor rides any time the grand kids wanted them.

Survivors include his sons: Terry (Dawn) Shogren of Waukon and Dave (Carol) Shogren of Pardeeville, WI; four grandchildren: Katie, Luke, Alicia, and Christian; a sister Delores Schellhammer of Lansing; two sisters-in-law: Judy Shogren and Florence McKee, both of Lansing; a brother-in-law Robert (Kathryn) Van Brocklin of Lansing; many nieces and nephews; and his dog Oscar. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Joyce, who died in 2012; two brothers: Kenneth (Lorraine) Shogren and LaVern Shogren; and a brother-in-law Harlan Schellhammer.

The honorary paw bearer is his dog Oscar. Casketbearers are Lynn and John Schellhammer, Danny, Derrick, and Andy Shogren, and Cletus Sommer.