Virgil Eugene Rose

LINCOLN — Virgil Eugene Rose, 77, Lincoln, formerly of Laurel, died Nov. 15, 2018, at the Norfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk.

Visitation was one hour prior to services Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral Service were Nov. 20 at the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel, with Rev. Jeffery Warner officiating.

Burial was in the Coleridge City Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Coleridge American Legion Post 114 and the American Legion Riders.

Pallbearers were Tyler Jeschke, Brett Jeschke, Lonnie Wickett, Don Duffy, Bob Dempster and Bob Dickey.

Gene was born in Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1941, the son of Morley and Agnes (Schrieber) Rose. He lived on a farm south of Coleridge until age 5, when the family moved to their farm near Laurel. He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Laurel and loved working with the animals on the family farm, especially his purebred Black Angus cattle. Gene’s dad, Morley, died when Gene was only 16 but his mom, Agnes, married another wonderful man, Ernie Fork, who was a great step dad to Gene. Gene entered the Navy July 6, 1960, and served for four years, being honorably discharged July 2, 1964. After the Navy, Gene attended college at Kearney State, Kearney, graduating with degrees in biology and microbiology. Gene was in an accident in 1965, leaving him a paraplegic. He married Elaine Marie Kodejs Feb. 20, 1992, and they divorced Nov. 2, 2012, but remained the closest of friends. Deer hunting was a passion of Gene’s and he enjoyed going deer hunting with his friends, Lonnie and Duffy, and his great-nephew, Tyler Jeschke. Gene spent his career working at the State Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, until his retirement.

He is survived by his three nieces, Anne Jeschke and husband, Kevin, Chillicothe, Mo.; Mary Ellen Bexten and husband, John, Manilla, Iowa; and Kathleen Leitru and Galen Jesme, Merrill, Iowa; his brother-in-law, Mike Gross, Denison, Iowa; his special friend, Elaine Kodejs; and numerous great-nieces and nephews, especially his hunting partner, Tyler Jeschke.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Morley Rose and Agnes Fork; his step father, Ernest Fork; and his sister, Donna Gross.