Gene Wilson

Hastings resident, Gene E. Wilson, 84, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2017, at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, Nebraska.

Graveside Services with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be Saturday, January 13, 2018; 10:00 A.M. at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, with Chaplain John Mueller officiating. A reception following the graveside service will be held at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Boys Town. There will be no viewing or visitation.

Gene was born July 11, 1933, in Agnew, Nebraska to Harry & Helen (Nelson) Wilson. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1950, graduating tenth out of 200 in his class. Gene served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 until 1956, serving as an airman first class. He married Darlene R. Pittz on June 17, 1966.

Gene earned his Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Heald College in San Francisco and was a licensed professional engineer in the State of California and the Commonwealth of Virginia. He spent ten years with a consulting firm in San Francisco dealing with institutional buildings, schools, hospitals, and airports in Oakland, California and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gene spent 25 years at various construction firms in California, Washington D.C., and New Jersey. He was a project engineer, project manager, and senior estimator for highway bridges in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; heavy underground structures and subway stations in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and Atlanta.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing and took great satisfaction in planting, nurturing, and watching his garden and trees grow. He was also an avid woodworker and loved spending time with his family and pet dogs.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, James and Thomas.

SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Darlene Wilson - Hastings, NE
Son:
Daniel Wilson - Hastings, NE
Sister & Spouse:
Mary & Richard Niemoeller - Livermore, CA
Sisters-in-law:
Sharon Wilson - Boise, ID
Ruth Poore - Hastings, NE
Bonnie Pittz - Memphis, TN
Numerous Nieces & Nephews