Eugene Gene Jerome Staudinger

Eugene "Gene" Jerome Staudinger, 80, Bismarck, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2011, surrounded by family. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 am Monday, August 8, at Church of Corpus Christi, 1919 N 2nd Street, Bismarck, with Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm Sunday, August 7, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a KC Rosary will be held at 6:30 pm followed by a vigil. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Gene was born on a farm near Flasher, ND, in April of 1931, to Alfonse and Kathryn Chyle Staudinger. After graduating from Mandan High School in 1950, Gene joined the U.S. Air Force, serving in Korea as military air police. In 1953, Gene married Leana Reed at Kirksville, MO; they had four daughters, Terri, Lucinda, Linda, and Donna. After Leana's death in 1968, Gene along with his family moved back to Mandan, working at the oil refinery and doing construction work. In 1968, Gene decided to attend Bismarck Junior College to pursue a teaching career. There he met Antoinette "Toni" Klein; they married on June 13, 1970, at St. Helena's Church in Ellendale. In 1971, they moved to Grand Forks where Gene pursued further studies at the University of North Dakota. He received a master's degree in building trades in the summer of 1972. That same year, Gene and Toni adopted infant twin boys, Matthew and Mark. The family moved to Morris, MN, for Gene's first assignment in teaching. In 1976, the family moved back to Bismarck where Gene started the vocational and building trades program and taught at Bismarck State College, United Tribes Technical College, and the State Penitentiary for a total of about 20 years of teaching. Gene was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Elks, and the American Legion. Gene loved family, camping, and traveling. His hobbies included hunting and fishing, and the outdoor life. He especially enjoyed watching drag racing with his sons. Gene is survived by his wife Toni of 41 years; his six children-four daughters and two sons, Terri Butch Hazel, Cody, WY, Lucinda Charlie Bullinger, Linda Joe Schmidt, Donna Staudinger, Matthew Staudinger and Mark Michelle Staudinger, all of Bismarck; nine grandchildren, Shawn Phillips, Desi Bullinger, Bella Hagstrom, Jonathan Ivy Schmidt, Leanna Schmidt, Rayce Greta Loritz, Lexy Loritz, Ivy Staudinger, and Degan Staudinger; two great-grandchildren, Taiven and Brysten Loritz; one brother, Alphonse; and one sister, Kay Charlie Nygaard. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonse and Kathryn; first wife, Leana; and his sister-in-law, Lila Staudinger The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff of St. Vincent's Care Center, who for the last four years cared for, and loved their father, as he and the family struggled through his Parkinson's disease and also a special thanks to St. Alexius Hospice for all their care.

Eugene Gene Jerome Staudinger

April 25, 1931 - August 4, 2011