- Date Of Birth: May 26, 1932
- Date Of Death: December 11, 2007
- State: Illinois
Gerald Eugene Bugg, 75, of Galesburg, IL, peacefully left this earth on Tuesday, December 11 at Cottage Hospital, surrounded by his devoted wife and loving daughters and granddaughters. Although his family bids a sad farewell, they are comforted by the fact that he can finally rest, as he struggled against the ravages of Alzheimer’s for a number of years, with his wife at his side as his caregiver.
Known to most everyone as Eugene or Jerry, he was born in Peoria, IL, on May 26, 1932. He was the son of Iva (Conover) and Garold Bugg. He attended Peoria area schools, but ventured off to enter the Marines and was in Korea at the young age of 17. After the young sergeant’s safe return, he met a Marine from Hawaii, Jean Interbencion, whom he married on January 29, 1954 at El Toro Marine Air Corps Station, Santa Ana, CA. They would have celebrated their 54th anniversary next month.
Surviving are his daughters Mary Bugg of Portland, Maine; Jenny (Michael) Forkenbrock of Downers Grove, Illinois; Geri Reynolds of Calais, Maine; and Melissa Bugg of Peoria. As Eugene would say, he was blessed with four “bootiful” granddaughters: Emily Jean Merrigan of Portland, Maine; Julie Reynolds (Jason) Redding of Hampden, Maine; Sara Reynolds of LaGrange, Maine, and Caitlin Reynolds of Calais, Maine. “Grampa” will be sadly missed at the wedding of his granddaughter Sara to Ryan Fitch in April of 2008.
Eugene was also a brother dearly loved by his sisters Darlene Schreiter of Groveland; Alice Walraven of Peoria; Donna (Richard) Parlier of Mapleton; Phyllis (Bill) Kelly of Peoria; and his dear brother Lawrence (Dixie) Bugg of Pekin. Eugene will be affectionately remembered by his many nieces and nephews for his unique sense of humor. He was predeceased by his mother; one brother, Roy Owen Bugg; great uncle and special aunt, Roy and Thelma Conover; and honorable mention, Pearl Nelson of Nelson’s Confectionary.
He also leaves behind special “buddies”, Kalman Gyory, Milton “Hootie” Yelm, Don Charles, Jan Ramp and boyhood friend Carl “Buzzie” Hand. “Thanks for all the good times.”
Eugene’s work ethic was “legendary” and was respected and appreciated by his family and coworkers. He lived by the saying “if you’re going to do it, do it right”. He was meticulous in everything he did and demonstrated this in his everyday life, as well as in his work as a mechanic and carpenter. For years he worked two jobs simultaneously to support his family. He worked at Benner’s, Admiral, Burlington Truck Lines, Yelm Construction and retired from Gates Rubber Company in 1996 after 32 years of employment. He also took great pride in and care of his home, yard, and personal possessions.
Whether shoveling his driveway, doing yard work, or off hunting, fishing, or “shrooming” somewhere, Eugene loved the outdoors. He hated being cooped up and liked to stay busy. He traveled to South Dakota, Wyoming, and Missouri for hunting and fishing excursions with his buddies. In October of this year, he reeled in an 8 pound carp while on a fishing trip with a family friend and special caregiver, Nelma Almaguer. In retirement he traveled with his wife, Jean, mostly to spend time with his children and grandchildren and to see the United States and Canada. His sense of humor was always with him and he made people laugh and smile even in the last days of his life.
