Eugene Gudehus "Gene" Christner Obituary (1906 - 2007)

Eugene Gudehus "Gene" Christner, 100, of Pana, died Monday, February 19, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur. He was born July 29, 1906, the second child of William and Katherine Gudehus Christner. He grew up on a farm south of Rosamond with his older sister Eleanor, and his younger brother Warren. He was a graduate of Pana Township High School Class of 1924. He married the late Rhea Margaret Waddington, daughter of Frank and Vashti Murray Waddington on May 9, 1931. They lived on the Vashti Murray Waddington family farm south of Rosamond all their married life. Their first child, daughter Audra, was born in April 1933 and is a Pana resident. A second child, a son, died at birth in 1941. Their third child, son Gregory was born in January 1949. Greg lives in Rochester, Minnesota with his wife Jodie and their three beautiful daughters: Alice, Margaret and Johanna. Gene held a variety of jobs in addition to farming for many years. In his early years he worked as a farm hand for the late Harvey Morrell Family north of Rosamond. He taught school for one year at the Gopher Hill Country School. With the assistance of his wife, he served as treasurer for 11 Montgomery County country schools. They had the usual treasurer's duties of paying the country school teachers and the 11 country school expenses. It was a great responsibility with a lot of bookkeeping. During some difficult years, teachers had to be paid with Anticipation Warrants. Each summer the Trustees would come to audit the books. Rhea would serve refreshments of sandwiches, homemade ice cream, fresh watermelon and home baked blackberry pies, etc. after the books were audited. Gene was a substitute mail carrier for Charlie Kimball's mail route. He usually carried the mail riding Patsy, the retired race horse. The roads would be too muddy for a vehicle to travel, but Patsy carried Gene and the mailbags very skillfully and carefully. She learned to know where each mailbox was located, and Gene could get each person's mail ready while riding Patsy from box to box. Gene also worked at the Sunshine Feed Store, now the Epley store in Pana as a part-time employee during World War II. During the time of these jobs, the farm work life continued. Farmers in those days just did not do their own work, but they all helped one another. Like all neighborhood farmers, Gene with his rack wagon and team of horses, followed George Schafle's steam powered threshing machine throughout the area until all the neighbor's grain had been threshed and all the straw stacked and left around the farms. Probably Gene's most beloved job was working for the Schmitz family at Illinois Roses Ltd. Greenhouse just outside of Pana on West Route 16. He dearly loved this work with the roses as well as all the good people. Mr. Aurelius Schmitz, Mr. Gene Schmitz, Joe and "young" Gene and all the Schmitz families and their many employees. This work may have well been Gene's greatest joy. Gene was a member of first United Presbyterian Church of Pana and Pana Lodge #226 AFAM where he served as Master in 1948. This past year he received a certificate from the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois in honor of his 100th birthday and for having been a member for over 62 years. He was the oldest living member of the Pana Lodge and oldest living Past Master. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Dennis J. Christner; brother, Warren F. Christner; and sister, Eleanor Christner Funeral Information Visitation will be held Friday from 9:30 until time of service at McCracken-Dean Funeral Home. Services will be held Friday, February 23, 2007 in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. with Masonic rites by Pana Lodge #226 AFAM followed by funeral services with Rev. Marilyn Rauch officiating. Burial will be in Rosemond Grove Cemetery, Rosamond, IL.