Gene L. Willmott

Gene L. Willmott, 95, of Sioux City, passed away Monday, July 15, 2024, at a local hospital after a short illness.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel with Reverend Del Olivier officiating. Visitation will start at 9:00 AM with the family present at 10:00 AM at the funeral home. Gene would want everyone to feel comfortable, so guests are encouraged to wear golf attire or your favorite Hawkeye gear. Burial with military honors will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gene was born December 8, 1928, the son of John R. and Vera (Smith) Willmott in Oto, Iowa. He attended school at Oto, graduating in 1946. Gene then graduated from the Wayne State Teachers College in May, 1950. He was a member of the track team and Sigma Tau Delta. He played baseball for Wayne in the Pioneer Nite League, and for years bowled in numerous classic leagues.

Gene joined the U.S. Army in October of 1950 and took basic training at Camp McCoy, WI. He attended Communication School in Fort Sill, OK. He was then assigned to the Far East Command and finished Chemical Warfare School in Japan before being assigned to the 8th Army Headquarters in Taegu and later Seoul, South Korea, where he was a Sergeant Major of the Artillery Section. Gene was honorably discharged in October of 1952.

He was united in marriage to Joan D. Crowell of Rosalie, NE on November 8, 1952, at the First United Methodist Church in Sioux City. This union was blessed with twins, Stacey and Scott. The family moved to Columbus, NE in 1955 where Gene managed a men’s clothing store. In 1957, Gene accepted a teaching position at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, where he taught American Government and English and was an assistant football and girls’ basketball coach.

In the fall of 1960, he continued his teaching career at North Junior High School in Sioux City and earned his master’s degree in 1961. In 1964, Gene transferred to the newly opened Herbert Hoover Junior High and remained there until his retirement in May of 1990. He coached 9th grade boys’ basketball at Hoover and was also the first girls’ basketball coach at North High in 1974.

Gene loved all sports especially baseball, bowling, golf and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Golf experience led him to working part-time at Golf Headquarters for 15 years after his retirement.

During his teaching years, he was treasurer for the SCEA and Siouxland Uniserv Unit and received the P. Kenneth Zeising Professional Service award in 1988. Gene also received the Alumni Service Award from Wayne State College in 2008. He was a member of SCEA for 30 years and a lifetime member of the NEA, ISEA, Wayne State College Heritage Society, and the Dakota Dunes Country Club.

Gene is survived by his children: Stacey Willmott of Jonesboro, AR and Scott (Shelley Sweeney) of Sioux City; grandchildren: Jill Willmott (Tyler Hubert) of Salix, IA and Matt Willmott (Tara) of Harrison, AR; great grandchildren: Ty, Reese, and Sydnee Willmott; nephew Greg Hagensick and family; and cousin Don Smith and family.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joan in 2007, his in-laws, Don’s wife Joan, sister Phyllis and her husband Duane Hagensick.

In Lieu of Flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the Wayne State Foundation for the Gene and Joan Willmott Scholarship Fund. Sincere appreciation and thank you to Gene’s “family” and staff at Charter Senior Living of Northpark Place.