Gene Fahncke

Gene Fahncke

December 29, 1925 ~ October 6, 2014

Gene Fahncke, 88, went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 6, 2014.  She was born on December 29, 1925 in Seattle, Washington to Robert O. Camp and Imogene (Emma Jean) Skavlebo Grant.

Gene spent much of her youth watching her father build roads. She traveled with her father as they lived out of the RV/Office he built. Robert built roads all over the Western States, including Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. He drove the first car off of the train that delivered it to Spokane. Gene often remarked that she rarely spent a year in any one place growing up. For this reason, spending the whole 3 ^rd grade in Los Gatos, California was exciting for her. Gene attended the University of Idaho, Moscow.

Gene married Kenneth “Ken” Fredrick Fahncke on September 10, 1944 in South Carolina and they later divorced. She married Glenn F. “Whitey” Whitsel on March 7, 1983 in Elko, NV and they later divorced. Much of her later life was simply devoted to her children, growing family , and caring for her dogs (“she went to the dogs”).

Gene loved serving her church family. She served as a bible study leader, Sunday school teacher, and served on the church board. She was an officer and “firm” member of the Lutheran Women Missionary League (LWML) Utah and Idaho district s and National Association of Professional Mortgage Women (NAPMW).  She was a founding member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton. Seemingly, at one time , hers was the only Christian family living in Kaysville , yet she delighted in finding how kind and accepting her neighbors were to them.

Gene enjoyed people, knitting, and crocheting and reading. She wowed us with her command of the English language and Latin. She also studied Biblical Greek. She was a volunteer to translate books to braille.

She loved going to soccer games and taking stats at baseball games. She also loved watching her great-grandkids .She enjoyed professional sports . She started, before TV, by listening to baseball games on the radio, especially the World Series. She was delighted to be an inaugural Season Ticket Holder with Real Salt Lake, and Ogden Outlaws. She enjoyed being an election official and followed local and national politics and elections. She was also very proud of her Norwegian/English/Scottish heritage.

Gene is survived by her sons, David Kenneth (Martha/Mardey) Fahncke, Arcadia, CA and Daniel Robert (Vicki Fahncke, Elfrida, AZ; daughters, Donna Jean (James) Eliason, Riverdale and Lauri/Missy Powell, Roy; grandchildren; Jimmie (Lisa) Powell and their children, Houston and Lila Gene ; ; Kenan (Stephanie) Powell, and their children, Treyson and Korbin; Donna’s children, Stephane Eliason Michele Eliason and her children, Isabella, Zechariah, and Zedrick; James (Kristin) Eliason; Dan’s children Sheron Taylor, Amy Fahncke Cojanis, Marty (Susan) Fahncke;  Dave’s children  Elizabeth (John) Hueter; Kathryn  Michael Fahncke;Lisa Fahncke, and Martha’s chlidren

Gene is also survived by her step-son Scott Whitsel; brothers and sisters-in-law Martin Fahncke, Richard Fahncke Celesta Howell, Marcella Werner, Herbert and Anna Brandt; niece and friend Diane Robb and her foster-sisters Willie and Laura

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Stephen Thomas Fahncke; husbands Kenneth F. Fahncke, and Glen F. Whitsel; and sisters Virginia (Billie) Grant Williams and Eloise Grant McKee ; brother - in-law Lyle Lowell; and sisters-in-law Lauretta Felver, Helen Fahncke, , Wanda Fahncke, ; and Son-in-law Jimmie B. Powell Sr.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3329 Harrison Blvd., Ogden, with Pastor Mark Christ officiating.  Viewing and invitation for friends to visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd, and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Washington Terrace Health and Rehab, particularly Tim Haley, Chris Brower, and many of the nursing care staff.

Cremation is entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.