Eugene Thias

Eugene W. Thias, 82, of Harpers Ferry died Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at his home. Funeral services were held Sunday, May 31 at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville, with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was at Maple Hill "Bigfoot" Cemetery, rural Rossville.
Eugene Wesley Thias was born August 1, 1932 on the Rossville farm of his parents, Wesley A. and Gretta (Palmer) Thias. He was baptized and confirmed at the Rossville Presbyterian Church and graduated from Waterville High School in 1951.
September 19, 1953 he married Janet LaVonne Svebakken at the Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon. Gene was a farmer all his life and he and Janet raised their family on a farm in the “Bigfoot” area of rural Rossville. They milked dairy cows, raised hogs and grew various grains in their diversified operation. Not one to stay idle long, Gene would sometimes operate heavy machinery for a construction crew during the summer months.
Gene was a member of Rossville Presbyterian Church, the Waterville Fire Department and the Allamakee County Sportsman’s Club. He enjoyed spending time outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he also liked to snowmobile. He loved taking his family on regular Sunday outings on the Mississippi River spending the day exploring and visiting sandbars. He played baseball in high school and when he was younger.
For many years he has enjoyed playing poker with some of his close friends and since moving to Harpers Ferry has been a regular at the weekly Bingo night. Since 2000 he spent the winter months in Donna, TX, where he enjoyed connecting with many of his local friends.
Survivors include his three children, Wendy (Leo) Gansen, Jr. of Epworth, and Deanne Normann and Bill (Cindi) Thias, both of Clermont; a special nephew, Danny (Patty) Beisker of Leola, PA; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Laurayne Beisker of Waukon. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Janet, who died in 2009; a grandson, Justin Thias; and a son-in-law, David Miller.
Casketbearers were Andrea Brehm, Eric Gansen, Damien and Terry Miller, Daniell, Heather, Jimmy and Mike Normann, Kristina Lane and Morgan Thias.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.