Gene Allen White, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died on September 4th, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. Born on February 28, 1948, in Vermillion, South Dakota, Gene was the son of Lyle Leroy White and Marjane Courtney (Shogren) White. He grew up on a farm where life was simple, hard‑working, and full of character — so much so that he didn’t have indoor plumbing until his senior year of high school.

He attended a one‑room country school until 5th grade, when he traded the country schoolhouse for the town school in Centerville, which felt like stepping into a whole new world. He graduated in 1966 and soon began his four‑year apprenticeship as an electrician — the start of a career that would span more than 50 years. Gene worked on major construction projects across Colorado, eventually becoming a project manager known for his skill, reliability, and trusted leadership.

Gene loved his country deeply and served it with pride. He spent a total of 13 years in the National Guard — serving in both the Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard. His service was quiet, faithful, and honorable, just like the rest of his life. He believed in the nation he served, and he passed that love of country on to his children and grandchildren.

When he retired and moved to a 55‑plus community, Gene became the neighborhood electrician — the man people called when something sparked, flickered, or flat‑out quit. He loved helping his neighbors and getting to know so many people in the community. Gene’s whole life was spent working with his hands. He was an “I can do it” person through and through. If something was broken, he could fix it. If something needed to be built, he could build it. The combination of a sharp mind and talented hands made no job too big or too small.

But the most important work Gene ever did with those hands was not electrical. It was the work of being a loving husband, father, and grandpa. Those hands that weathered decades of labor were the same hands that held his babies, lovingly played with his grandkids, comforted his family, and reached for Linda’s hand for 58 years.

Gene spent his life quietly serving others — never asking for attention, never needing credit, always showing up with a helping hand, a reassuring presence, and that familiar twinkle in his eye. He lived a simple, meaningful life, defined by his devotion to his family and friends. Whether he was teasing the grandkids, offering quiet wisdom, or slipping in a one‑liner at just the right moment, he made the people around him feel loved and supported.

He leaves behind a family who will forever feel the imprint of his kindness, his loyalty, and his constant love. Gene didn’t just live a good life — he lived a life that made other people’s lives better. And that is the legacy he leaves with all of us.

“In the end, it is the gentleness of strong hands that we remember most.”

Those who will miss him deeply: his wife, Linda; his children, Chris and Melissa; his daughter‑in‑law, Michelle; Melissa’s partner, Tim; his grandchildren Stephanie (and her husband, Kevin), Jordan, Sophia (and her husband, Jeff), Cade, Kaleb, and Tess; his step‑grandchildren Jordyn and Jake; and his great‑granddaughters, Maevie and Charlotte.

Gene's family will be holding private graveside services.