Eugene E. “Gene” Neumayer passed away March 14, 2011, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

A vigil service will be held Friday, March 18, 2011, at 5 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. A mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, March 19, at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with burial following in Grandview Cemetery.

Gene was born December 28, 1928, in Bonners Ferry to Alois (Ott) and Natalie Neumayer. He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School. He married Norma Tudor in 1950 and had three sons, Tony, Jim and Tom, and one daughter who died at birth.

Gene worked for the Forest Service in lookout towers and fire watches throughout Northern Idaho.

In 1951, Gene joined the Asbestos Workers Union and worked in the insulating trade for 33 years. In between those years he operated, along with Norma, a cleaning business in Missoula, Montana.

Gene worked all over Montana, Idaho and Washington and was particularly proud of working on the missile silos in eastern Montana and Hanford in the Tri Cities.

Gene was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus and reached the level of 4th degree knight.

Gene married Helen McClain in the early 1980s and remained married to Helen until her death in 1995. He retired in Bonners Ferry in 1996, where he lived until is passing. Gene enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and his pets that were with him always. Gene enjoyed seeing his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gene is survived by four sons, Tony (Linda) Neumayer of Missoula, Montana, Jim (Ivenette) Neumayer of Missoula, Montana, Tom (Tamera) Neumayer of Thompson Falls, Montana, and Mike (Amy) McClain of Hilo, Hawaii. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, James and granddaughter Kaitlyn, wife’s, Norma Avery and Helen Neumayer.

Family and friends are invited to sign Gene’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.