Eugene T. Francis

Cuba City, Wisconsin Eugene T. "Gene" Francis, 80, of Cuba City, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at Southwest Health Center Hospital in Platteville. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 28, 2012, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Cuba City with Rev. David Flanagan officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Casey Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Cuba City where the parish wake service will be at 2:45 p.m. Friends may also call from 9-9:45 a.m. Friday at the funeral home before the service. Gene was born on October 2, 1932, in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, the son of John T. and Veronica "Vera" (Keenan) Francis. He married Jean K. Westemeier on October 22, 1959, at St. Mary's Church in Galena, Illinois. Gene graduated from Cuba City High School in 1950 and then attended UW-Platteville. He served in the Army during the Korean War. Gene worked for 30 years at Tri-State Tours in Galena, before starting his own company, Francis Travel, LLC twelve years ago. Gene played on many semi-pro baseball and softball teams and managed the Cuba City team for many years. He refereed basketball and football games at the high school level and umpired baseball and softball for many years. Gene served on the Cuba City School Board for six years. He was an active member of St. Rose Church serving as a lector and communion distributor since the program began. He also served on the St. Rose Parish Council. Gene was a charter member of the Cuba City Lions Club since 1962 where he held many offices in the club and served as Zone Chair and on the Youth Exchange Committee. Most recently he served as District Governor. He was also a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Survivors include his wife, Jean; six daughters, Tina Reddish, of Hayden, ID, Kelly Atkins, of Louisville, KY, Lisa (Bruce) Francis-Schafman, of Eldridge, IA, Lori Jensen and Jill Francis-Donisi, both of LaCrosse, WI, and Rae Machado, of Louisville, KY; two sisters, Joan (John) Murphy, of Aurora, CO, and Rita Wharton, of Maquoketa, IA; nine grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother-in-law, Charles Wharton. A Eugene T. "Gene" Francis Memorial Fund has been established