Joseph Eugene "Gene" Sernett - age 91, of Laurens, passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Gene was born on May 19, 1928, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was the son of Jim and Alice (Condon) Sernett. Brothers Ken and Paul and sisters Eileen and Mary Beth later joined the family, who lived in Rolfe until 1939, when they moved to Fonda. Gene graduated in 1947 from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Fonda. He attended Loras College in Dubuque for one year.
Gene started working at M & JR Hakes when he was 16, and continued working for the company until he joined the United States Air Force in 1950. When he was honorably discharged in 1954, he returned to M & JR Hakes, where he worked until his retirement in 1990. Gene enjoyed his working years, and he made many dear friends through his work.
While in the Air Force, stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, Gene met Alice Blazek. On June 6, 1953, Gene and Alice were married in Tucson. They started their family when daughter, Sue was born in 1954. Later that year, they moved to Fonda, and in 1955, Mary was born. A few months later, they moved to Laurens. Kathy joined the family in 1956, followed by Pat in 1958 and Barb in 1960. In 1962, Gene, Alice and their five daughters welcomed to the family their only son and brother, Joseph Eugene "Joe" Sernett, Jr. Gene and Alice enjoyed those early, very busy years raising their family. One of the greatest joys of their lives was watching their family grow, as their children became adults and married, and then, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along. Gene treasured each of them, appreciating their individual characteristics and abilities. He always loved having a chance to visit with each of his family members and catch up on their latest activities. He had an amazing memory for the details of who was doing what, because it was so important to him.

In addition to spending time with his family, Gene enjoyed traveling, fishing, going to races in Jackson, Minnesota, golfing, gardening, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes on TV, woodworking, singing and traveling with the American Heritage Singers and Musicians, walking, and visiting with new and longtime friends. He genuinely loved people. Special times were fishing trips to Canada, trips to Europe, an Alaskan cruise and the Honor Flight to Washington, DC. In their retirement years, Gene and Alice bought a winter home in Florence Gardens, Arizona, where they made many friends and participated in all of the activities their retirement community offered: golfing, hiking in the desert, singing groups and musical productions. They also loved the beautiful scenery of Arizona. Gene enjoyed his special friends in his golfing group in Laurens, his coffee buddies and his friends at Congregate Meals.

Gene was a man of great faith and was very involved at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens, as a choir member, a eucharistic minister and a member of the church council and the building and planning committee, among other roles. He was also very active in the Knights of Columbus, including serving as Grand Knight. He enjoyed reconnecting with longtime friends and making new ones at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Pocahontas.

Left to cherish their memories of Gene are his children: Sue Johnson of Albuquerque, NM, Mary (Jim) Runneberg of Laurens, Kathy (Mike) Keane of Dubuque, IA, Pat Sernett of Selah, WA, Barb (Dan) Edmonds of Sioux Falls, SD, and Joe (Amy) Sernett of Omaha, NE; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brothers Ken (Ann) Sernett and Paul (Carol) Sernett; sister Eileen Imming, brother-in-law Frank (Mary Jane) Blazek and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; his parents, Jim and Alice Sernett; sister, Mary Beth Murray; grandson, Michael Sernett; Alice's parents, Frank and Sue Blazek; brothers-in-law, Mel Imming and Dale Murray; nephew Steve Imming and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Eugene Sernett - age 91, of Laurens, passed away on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.