Eugene J. Henderson

Eugene Judson "Gene" Henderson, devoted husband, father and devout Christian, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, in Niles, Michigan, at the age of 95. Family and friends of Mr. Henderson will gather at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles, followed by a procession to Mission Hills Cemetery, 61453 M-51, Niles for a Committal Service with Bill Zebell, Caring Pastor at Berrien Center Bible Church officiating.  Contributions in memory of Mr. Henderson may be made to the Hanson Hospice Center, 4382 Cleveland Avenue, Stevensville, Michigan, 49127, https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/hanson-hospice-center; or to Caring Circle Hospice, 4025 Health Park Lane, Saint Joseph, Michigan, 49085, https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/caring-circle.

Gene was born January 20, 1929, in Decatur, Illinois. He grew up through the Depression living on a small farm near Maroa, IL before the family moved to a grain and dairy farm on East Mound Road in Decatur, where they lived for 60 years. The family would start their day at 4 am milking cows, delivering milk bottles and other farm chores. They raised cows, pigs, show goats, chickens/roosters, horses, turkeys and peacocks. In his youth, Gene helped his family with the farming and also worked at his father's print shop in downtown Decatur.

Gene met a lovely girl named Helen Billick during their freshmen year at Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL, and it wasn't long before they were married - on July 5, 1947. They started their life together in a very humble concrete block "basement" which Gene eventually built into a lovely two story, three bedroom house. Gene had always been a busy and hard-working man. His relentless work ethic took him from hard labor - grave digging, construction, building houses - eventually to a 30 year career at Caterpillar Tractor Company, where he rose from working on the assembly line to become foreman, and then the Superintendent of Material Control over the entire plant. He retired from there after 30 years, in 1986.

In 1962, Eugene and a friend started planting evergreen seedlings on a few acres in the back pasture for a Christmas tree farm. The trees grew beautifully in rows, and the first sales were in 1967 - fresh "cut your pick" trees for $5! From 1980 to the late 1990s, Gene held the price of his trees to $15 because he wanted everyone who wanted a tree to be able to afford one. Gene and the family planted, trimmed and sold Christmas trees for over 40 years, ending in 2005. It was a wonderful, "Norman Rockwell" kind of annual event for everyone. But Gene wasn't done working. In addition to all the demands required of maintaining a huge yard, barn and 40 acres of (former farm) land, he went on for many years working for Herman's Used Car lot, with Herman flying Gene and a few retiree friends to Chicago or Indianapolis auctions after which the retirees drove the cars back to Decatur for sale.

Gene was a stalwart member of his community and church, first attending Central Christian Church and later First Christian Church in Decatur both as a Deacon and Elder, and after moving to Niles eventually attended Berrien Center Bible Church. His faith and dedication to the Lord mirrored the strength and support he provided to his family and friends.

Athletics and outdoor activities played a significant role in Gene's life. He was a skilled golfer, a fierce racquetball player (he played for over 50 years, including winning 1st place in the Decatur 50-60 age bracket at age 58 ...and he didn't retire his racket until he was 78!) Gene was also an enthusiastic participant in slow-pitch baseball for Central Christian Church. His love for sports was paralleled by his passion for motorcycling, owning several BMW motorcycles throughout his life. Gene also enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and Bulls, celebrating victories that brought joy to his later years (especially getting to watch the Cubs finally win the World Series!).

Gene enjoyed outdoor vacations and often took the family north from Illinois for summer camping and canoeing trips, and he shared his love for sailing with family and friends, co-owning a 36 foot sailboat on Lake Michigan for several years. He was known for filming family gatherings, especially at Christmas time. Gene and family welcomed two International Youth Exchange students into the home - Nobuko from Japan in 1968 and Vivian from Brazil in 1969-1970. They became part of the family. Later in life Gene and Helen - and sometimes their daughters - took trips to Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada and even Ukraine several times (Helen's parents were immigrants from Ukraine).

Family was always the cornerstone of Gene's life. His legacy of kindness, steadfastness, and his gentle but clever, dry humor will live on in the memories of his family and all who knew him. He is survived by his children, Diane (& Pat) McCullough, Scott Henderson, Brad (& Bwendy) Henderson, Jeanne (& Greg) Wright, and daughter-in-law Inge (Mrs. Terry) Henderson; grandchildren, Ilene Henderson, Alisa Blake, Tyler (& Natalie) McCullough, Daniel (& Kaylee) Henderson, Evan (& Whitney) McCullough, Cody Rose Bowden, Maisy (& Andrew) Englund, Luc Henderson, Cambria Henderson, Kyler Henderson, and Olya Wright; great-grandchildren, Emily (& Jason) Cole, Daimon Cavinder, Chase (& Merissa) Bryant, Emma McCullough, Drew McCullough, Meagan McCullough, Parker McCullough, Kai McCullough, and Charli McCullough; and one great-great-grandchild, Brantley McClain. Gene was preceded in death by two sisters, his wife of 73 years, and a son, Terry.

Gene led a life marked by dedication, kindness, and a sense of duty. He never let down a family member or a friend - NEVER. His life and legacy will be honored and warmly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know him.