May 14, 1947 – June 16, 2017
Gene was born May 14,1947 in St. Louis. He was a longtime electrician with Ozark Electric and worked in the sand mines for PPG Industries in Crystal City. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Church, a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels, and a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army.
Gene and his wife Barbara Ann (Heibel) Casper celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 20, 2016. Gene was so excited about their 50th anniversary party; he felt blessed to have so many friends share this special time with them. Barb passed away in January of 2017 and Gene followed in June of 2017. They had a great marriage, and he was a devoted father to their two daughters. Gene and Barb both had several bouts with cancer, but they both remained positive and upbeat about family, friends, and life in general.
Gene grew up in Festus, went to Sacred Heart Grade School, and St. Pius X High School where he made lifelong friends. He was always a person who could be counted on, had a sense of humor that often-escaped others, a determination to do things his way, and always had a story to tell – just weren’t sure if it were true or not – and he wasn’t going to clarify.
