Gene Warren Fish, age 88, of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at The Waterford of Wisconsin Rapids, after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Gene was born November 24, 1930 on the family farm in Delton, WI to Warren and Leona (Foss) Fish. He married Thea Jane Worlund on October 1, 1955 in Janesville, WI. They were blessed with 63 years of marriage.

He spent his early years working on the family farm.  Gene attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse near Lake Delton and graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School as a member of the class of 1948. After high school, he worked at The Bowl Inn Bar in Lake Delton until he joined the Army.  Gene served in the 51st Signal Battalion I Corps during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952.  After the war, he came to Wisconsin Rapids, where he met the love of his life, Thea Jane Worlund. Gene owned Gene’s Cities Service Station, on the corner of 16th Street and Baker Street during the 1950’s. He went on to work for Normington’s Cleaners, Alan’s Electric, and Complete Control, from which he retired in 1992.

Gene was an easy-going man, he loved talking to people and could make anyone laugh. He was also a handyman, who could fix just about anything.  During his retirement, Gene enjoyed going to garage sales with Thea and selling antiques at flea markets around Wisconsin. In his spare time, he also enjoyed gardening, bowling, and spending time with his loved ones. Gene was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He is loved and will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Thea Jane; his daughter, Carol Flick; his step-son, Don (Juli) Kahoun; three granddaughters; seven great-grandchildren; and his brother, Carl (Bonnie) Fish.  In addition to his parents, Gene is preceded in death by a daughter, Jean Johnson; his brothers, Andy and Clinton Fish; and his half-brother, Raymond Wenkman.

As were his wishes, there will be no public visitation or service.  A private family memorial will take place at a later date.  Inurnment will take place at Forest Hill Cemetery in 2019.

The family would like to thank the staffs at The Waterford of Wisconsin Rapids and Heartland Hospice for their extraordinary compassion and care given to Gene in his final years.  Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family at this difficult time.