Gene Havelka passed away on October 2, 2021. He had a brief hospitalization and died of cardiac failure at the age of 86.

Gene was born in Owensville, MO on September 17, 1935 to Erwin and Sophia Havelka. He grew up on a farm with his two brothers, Calvin, nicknamed “Bubba” and Milford, nicknamed “Toots” and Gene whose nickname was “Shanks.” The brothers always teased Gene about being the favorite middle child. His love for John Deere tractors began with his brothers on the farm.

He joined the Navy at the age of 18 and spent four years active duty and four years in the reserve. He spent 44 months on the same ship, the Montrose, serving as a signalman specializing in semaphore communication using flags. A skill he would later teach to his kids and their friends in Pathfinders to earn an honor patch.

Gene and Shirley met on one of Gene’s home leaves. She was the “new girl in town” as her parents had bought the store in Drake. He came in to check her out and bought her a cream soda and thus began a four year courtship. They were married on April 27, 1958 and soon began their lives in St Louis. Daughter, Stacy Jean, arrived seven years later and son, Brian Ray, 17 months after that. They celebrated 63 years of marriage.

Gene was a Journeyman Machinist at McDonnell Douglas and worked on the space program and also sold Real Estate for many years. But, his favorite job of 30 years was with Rice Equipment as a traveling salesman selling loading dock equipment. Gene’s “gift of gab” served him well in sales. Gene’s excellent sales ability won many nice trips with the company over the years, a favorite being Hawaii.

Gene and Shirley enjoyed camping and RV’d over most of the United States and much of Canada. They enjoyed “camp hosting” at several Missouri State Parks and spent four months as work campers in Bar Harbor, Maine. The last 20 years winters were spent in Avon Park, Florida. Gene made a whole new set of friends there while riding around on his scooter, fishing and golfing. Gene never met a stranger and was a kind hearted friend to everyone he met, always ready to help.

Gene, Shirley, Stacy and Brian were charter members of the West County SDA Church, where Gene served as a deacon for many years. When we used to go caroling for Ingathering, Gene was always a canvasser as he was totally tone deaf, as were his two brothers and it was a family joke when they sang Happy Birthday together!

He will be missed by the neighborhood as he was the “self appointed” watch captain of the street! He would sit in his folding lawn chair with Carlie, his dog, on his lap and talk to everyone who walked by! Stacy and Brian will miss his help with “honey do” projects around their homes. He loved climbing up on ladders at Stacy’s and upsetting everyone when she would post pictures of this on facebook!

He was a big St. Louis Cardinals and Blues Hockey fan and followed them closely on TV and in the paper. He also enjoyed all of his dogs throughout the years, most recently Carlie of ten years.

Gene’s favorite restaurant was Cunetto’s on the Hill. His favorite carry out was Chinese or pizza…..Every birthday his request was for peach pie and glazed donuts.

A Memorial Service will be held at 6pm, with a Celebration of Life to follow from 7 – 9pm on November 6, 2021 at: West County Seventh-Day Adventist Church; 16800 Baxter Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63005.

Memorial service will be live streamed 11/6 at 6pm @

https://m.youtube.com/user/Stlwcsda