Obituary: Siegert, Gene Lyle (Usaf Retired)
Age 79
Sun., April 19, 2015
Gene was born, Gaelon Francis Oberby, in Enderlin, North Dakota on January 19, 1936 and adopted by Albert and Luella Siegert in 1941.
In 1955, Gene enlisted in the US Air Force, proudly serving for 23 years.
In 1959, Gene married the love of his life, Ovidette “Vi” Couillard.
In just a few short years Gene and Vi were blessed with two children, son Daniel (1959) and daughter Debra (1960).
The Air Force moved the family around to bases in New York, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Washington, and South Dakota.
Following his retirement in 1978, the family returned to the Cheney area and Gene began 26 years of proud service at Gonzaga University in the Maintenance Department where if it couldn’t be fixed by Gene, then clearly there was not a tool yet made to accomplish that task.
He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Vi, his sister Joanne, children Daniel (Roxanne) Siegert of Davenport, WA and Debra (Michael) O’Neill of Riverside, CA.
He will forever remain a hero in the hearts of his granddaughters: Dannielle “Tiff” (Jeremiah) Choate, Tabitha Siegert (Jamie Collins), Karri (Brian) Quill, Shelby (Kurt) Hascall and Erin O’Neill; great-grandchildren Makayla, Nathan, Daniel, Elias, Kailey, and Sofie.
Gene will also be missed by his best friend George Erdely as well as numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and his dog Dutch.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st at Cheney Funeral Chapel - 1632 W. 1st St. in Cheney, WA.
Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery at 21702 W. Espanola Rd.
in Medical Lake, WA.
Online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com CHENEY FUNERAL CHAPEL, Cheney, WA
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