Gene Coy

Gene W Coy of Neenah, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly on October 31, 2025. He was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, on November 26, 1947, the son of Bernal and Elaine Coy.

Gene graduated from Richland Center High School in 1965, where he was a standout track athlete, setting school records in the pole vault that stood for many years. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse for two years before continuing his education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he earned a degree in Business.

After graduation, Gene landed his first job as a consultant at Standard Business Research, beginning a lifelong career in business management. He later joined Great Northern Corporation, where he held various roles as Vice President until his retirement in 2006.

In 1977, Gene met Cindy (Johnson) Craig while working at Great Northern Corporation, and they married later that year on November 12, 1977. Together they joined families with daughters Julie, Stephanie, and Sonya and later welcomed their son, Kevin.

Gene enjoyed travel and golf throughout his family years, proudly being a member at Ridgeway Country Club and cherishing his fun accomplishment of winning the Red Coat Tournament with his brother-in-law, Steve. Gene and Cindy shared 22 wonderful years at their family cottage on Legend Lake, co-owned with Sue and Steve, where countless memories were made with their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Known for his prankster personality and sharp wit, Gene loved sharing his famously “bad” jokes, playful scares in the dark, and magician tricks. He delighted in entertaining family and friends, often laughing at his own jokes before finishing them—something everyone will fondly remember.

After retiring in 2006, Gene spent his later years enjoying time at the cottage, traveling to Arizona and Florida, and visiting his beloved grandchildren.

Gene is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and children: Julie Coy Pakula (Jeff) of New Berlin, WI; Kevin Coy of Bozeman, MT; stepdaughters Stephanie Craig Ruesch (Jeffrey) of Cottage Grove, WI; and Sonya Craig Sprague (Clark) of Bozeman, MT;  grandchildren Ashley, Brooke, Jensen, Lawson, Taylor, Olivia, and Samantha; great-grandchildren Jesse, Ramon, Alexander, Ava, and Ella; brothers and sister Bernie (Maria) of San Antonio, TX; Ron (Rosie), Cindy (Jude) Elliott, and Tim (Lisa) of Richland Center, WI; and Terry (Sharon) of Elizabethtown, KY. He is further survived by two dear aunts, Inis Hebbe of Menomonee Falls and Sharon Yourdon of Olathe, KS, as well as in-laws Susan and Steve Elbing, Linda and Jerry Charapata, Jack and Anna Johnson, Jim and Joellen Johnson, Mary Johnson and Randy Podgorski. Numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of his family also mourn his loss.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernal and Elaine Coy, and brother Jeffrey.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Neenah on November 7, 2025. Visitation will take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a service. A live stream will be available  on the church's YouTube page.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be established for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.