Gene and I have been friends for almost 75 years. Gene was my brother's Bill best friend in highschool. during the last 20 years we have done many many wonderful things together. We had become like brothers and shared this in a loving way. Gene is and will be greatly missed.
Gene was a valued and much loved friend of my late husband, Ed Johnson, who, like Gene, was a member of The Eagles men's group begun in Sunnyvale over 30 years ago. Gene was one of the kindest, gentlest, and funniest men I have ever known. I miss him so very much and know that he and Ed are together in heaven forming a new men's group there! God bless Gene and his family.
Gene was a person of extraordinary depth and a wonderful sense of humor. In conversation he made you feel as if you were his best friend and the only person present. We, everyone in the Eagle's Men's Group, will miss him greatly. I'm sure everyone who he had contact with would say he was an outstanding person who contributed to making your life richer by knowing him. We will all miss him.
I am so thankful for Gene. He touched my life in a special way. As my dad shared of his special friendship with Gene, that friendship meant so much to me as well. Knowing that my dad had someone in his life who was a fun, caring, honest and true friend, gave me great joy. Gene was also a true friend to me and my family, inviting us to stay with him as we journeyed north to visit my dad and joining my dad during his visits to our home. We shared a common world view, which made for some wonderfully passionate conversations about things, including our common faith in Jesus. He and my husband Randy enjoyed many talks about shared political perspectives. Though my dad had differing views on these topics, it never caused a wedge in their friendship or hindered them from loving one another. Gene told me recently that he realized how important it was to verbally express love to others and I am so happy he had the opportunity to say “I love you” to many before he left us. Gene’s faith gave him the hope of a much greater life, promised to him in God’s word, a life that we can hardly comprehend. I rejoice, knowing that Gene is in the amazing place that our God has prepared for him. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9) With blessed memories and love to his family, Cindy Beaudoin (Eddie Olson’s daughter)
I was only blessed with the privilege of knowing Gene for the past 16 years. Even though he was 36 years my senior I really felt like we were kindred spirits. He stayed at our home and my wife Cindy and I stayed at his. We would talk our two favorite subjects, politics and our faith, it was a joy for him so see younger people that had similar views and it gave him hope for the future of our awesome country. Two things that I can say about Gene without hesitation, he enjoyed life, He loved to smile and show the love of Christ through the way he approached life and while his life long buddies will have one less at the table, he most definitely will not be forgotten. And two, and most importantly, I have absolutely no doubt where Gene resides right now and it isn’t in the grave! Like the songs says, “there ain’t no grave that is going to hold this body down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGncW_ueyHA his last breath in this world was a tinkling of an eye before his first breath with Jesus.
Love you Gene and save a spot for me – Randy Beaudoin
Gene has been a part of our extended family for more than 35 years. The holidays and special occasions spent together allowed us to enjoy his wit, humor and depth of character. His love and friendship has enriched us all. He will be truly missed. Written by Sally Sauer De la Rosa, daughter of Betty Sauer
