Gene Wesley Wester, 89, Maryville, Missouri, passed away July 31, 2018, in Maryville. Gene was born December 3, 1928, in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Gene was a graduate of Tarkio High School and attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a self-employed farmer all his adult life. After retiring from farming he drove a school bus, for 11 years, for the Tarkio School District.
Gene enjoyed building and flying model airplanes, as well as woodworking and building things for his grandchildren. He was a member of Laura Street Baptist Church. He served as a Deacon from 1972-2000 and started a bus ministry, for 17 years, at the Tarkio First Baptist Church.
Gene was united in marriage to Betty Ruth Brinegar on June 7, 1953. She survives of the home in Maryville. Additional survivors include: daughters, Genine (Phil) Lance, Graham, Missouri, and Linda (Rick) Owens, Clarinda, Iowa; son, Mark (Faith) Wester, Monument, Colorado; grandchild­ren, Kara (Jesse) Marsh, Scott (Nichole) Lance, Lisa Lance (Tanner Barr), Carleen (Jason) Smith, Doug (Rebekah) Owens, Danny (Kendra) Owens, Evan (Sarah) Wester, Lauren Wester, Jenaé Wester, and Ben Wester; and seventeen great-grandchildren. Preceding Gene in death include his parents, John (Wes) and Laura (Anna) Wester.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 3, 2018, at Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 4, 2018, at Laura Street Baptist Church, Maryville, under the direction of the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home in Maryville. Interment will be at the Tarkio Home Cemetery in Tarkio with full military honors conducted by Allen-Schiffern American Legion Post #199 of Tarkio. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Children’s Ministry at Laura Street Baptist Church in Maryville.