EUGENE CHERDRON

Eugene I. Cherdron, 83, of Neenah, passed away late Thursday, April 7, 2011, at ThedaCare Hospital, after a one-year illness. He was born on March 17, 1928, in Rice Lake, Wis. to Irving and Vivian (Tucker) Cherdron. On April 23, 1955, he married Delores (Dee) Piette at First English Lutheran Church in Appleton. During his teen years, Gene helped operate a family bus company in Marshfield, Wis., and then moved with his family to Oshkosh. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard two different Destroyers in the Atlantic Ocean from 1946 to 1948, leaving the military as a Seaman First Class. He then spent 36 years working for Kimberly-Clark Corporation in several positions, retiring from the Purchasing Department of the Neenah Paper Division. Gene was a founding member in 1959 of the Fox Valley Muzzle Loaders Club, and was a very active member, serving as its president for a number of years. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association, as well as the Wisconsin Gun Collectors Club. Gene is survived by his loving family -- wife of 56 years, Dee; his daughter, Debra (Brian) Cherdron-Pauls -- two brothers-in-law: Ronald (Lorna) Piette, Neenah; Gerald (Shirley) Piette, Arizona; nephews: Daniel (Marcia) Piette, and Darren Piette, Dr. Randall (Amy) Piette; and his cousins: Lynette (Cliff) Bird, and Steven (Lynn) Tucker, with whose family he lived for several years in Oshkosh. He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Edward and Clara Piette, and a nephew, Dean Piette. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, April 11, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Neenahs Westgor Funeral Home; Pastor Stephen Dietzler of St. Marks Lutheran Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service. The family wishes to thank the many doctors and nurses at ThedaCare in Neenah and New London for their excellent care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.