HURON –– Eugene Katz, age 86, of Huron, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Peaceful Pines Assisted Living in Huron. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, April 3, at Welter Funeral Home with burial at Riverside Cemetery in Huron. Visitation, with family present, will be Thursday, April 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. with a time of sharing starting at 5 p.m. and visitation also the hour before the service on Friday morning.
Eugene Hartman Katz was born on May 22, 1939, in Huron to parents Paul Hartman and Lillian Irene Alma (Hein) Katz. Gene attended country schools in Beadle County and graduated from Huron High School. During his high school days, Gene worked at Coca-Cola. After high school, Gene enlisted in the Army National Guard and served from 1959 to 1964.
Gene married Bonnie Baum, the love of his life, on August 26, 1962, in Huron. After their wedding, Gene and Bonnie left for Omaha where Gene worked for the Campbell Soup Company for fourteen years. After a couple years in Omaha, the family moved to La Vista, where Gene was a member of the LaVista Volunteer Fire Department and was 1st assistant chief and emergency medical technician. The family returned to Huron in 1976, where Gene worked for Burnison Plumbing and Heating and Park Grant Company. His career with the Huron School District started in 1984. He was a custodian at the Huron Middle School for 17 years. He truly enjoyed his work and loved to take care of the clocks at the middle school. When the old middle school closed, Gene was instrumental in making the display of all the clocks at the new middle school.
Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing, but his true passion was woodworking. He handcrafted benches, curio cabinets, and many special gifts for his family, creating treasured pieces that will be cherished for years to come. Following his retirement, Gene devoted much of his time to caring for his grandchildren and attending their activities. They were the center of his world. Known for always putting others first, Gene will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Bonnie of Huron; sons, Clifton (Beverly) and Bradley, all of Huron; grandchildren, Cory (Christina) Katz, Alix Katz, Brittany (Tyler VanWyhe) Brimmer, Hartman (Sydney) Katz, Elizabeth (Andrew) Raml, Shannon (Mitchell) Oehme, and Matthew (Shae) Katz; 7 great-grandchildren, Brier and Malikai, Emmett and Isla, Paul, Eddy, and Scottie; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald, Robert, Charles “Alan”; sisters Frances Wulf, Phyllis Buick, Delores Stopplemoor, Verla Teply and baby Nancy.
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