Gene Alexander

The funeral for Gene D. Alexander will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester. Interment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester. Gene passed away peacefully with family by his side on 4-21-2018 at Cottagewood Senior Communities, Rochester. He was born on May 18, 1935 in Rochester, Minnesota and was a life-time resident. His many friends know him better as "Geno" or "Jigger". He married his high school sweetheart Janet Boyd in 1957 and together they raised their three daughters. He and Jan were married for 48 wonderful years, until her death in 2005. Gene worked for just shy of 40 years for Rochester Public Utilities, 25 years as a high-voltage lineman and 14 plus years in the meter room. He had a life-long love of sports and was a natural athlete. His love of sports was channeled into organizing and umpiring the Rochester Church Softball League for 50 years. In 2002 he was inducted into the Minnesota American Softball Association Hall of Fame for his efforts. He organized and umpired the Rochester Church Volleyball League for many years. He also played in the Rochester Church Volleyball and Basketball Leagues. Gene and Jan founded Alexander Boat Storage in Wabasha, Minnesota, and in support of children's athletic development the family business proudly supported booster programs at all the Rochester high schools. He was a proud supporter of his grandsons sporting endeavors, a prominent and vocal fixture at their hockey games, and beloved by many of the team members. Gene and Jan had many friends with which they travelled and boated on the Mississippi River over the years. The Classic Boat Club had many wonderful trips and adventures together. They also enjoyed spending time visiting their two daughters in Washington state and enjoying time with their daughter and grandsons in Rochester. He was a lifetime member of Zumbro Lutheran Church and a proud "Norwegian" American. Gene had a great interest in Native American history and art and supported the St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota for years. His home was full of American Indian art and memorabilia. He loved to collect rocks, minerals, and fossils and several specimens were donated to the Rochester Quarry Hill Nature Center. He loved eagles and an eagle sculpture he and Jan purchased in Hawaii was donated to Lourdes High School in 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles "Buzz" and Ruth (Tverberg) Alexander and his beloved wife Jan. He is survived by his three daughters, Debra Alexander and husband Keith Nix of Benton City, WA, Terri L. Alexander of Bremerton, WA, and Susan J. Alexander and her two sons Alex and Max Whitney of Rochester. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home in Rochester, and an hour before the service Friday at the church. Memorials may be donated to the family for Alzheimer's research. To leave a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600