Gene H. Cantrell

Gene H. Cantrell, 90, of Dakota City, NE, passed away, surrounded by his family, on November 6, 2020 at his residence.  A funeral service and Masonic Service will be held Friday, November 13, 2020 at 10:30 A.M. at Mohr & Becker Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7:00 P.M. at the funeral Home.  Burial will be at Dakota City Cemetery.  Due to the pandemic, masks are requested.  Online condolences may be made to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Gene was born on September 25, 1930 in Shawnee, OK to Haskell and Dorothy (McNew) Cantrell.  He grew up in Lead, SD where he graduated from High School in 1949. He enlisted with the United States Army from 1953-1955 and served in Korea.  After high school, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in education from Black Hills College in 1953 and a Master’s degree in education from Colorado State College in 1959.  Gene taught as an industrial arts teacher for 38 years at Sioux City East and Hayworth Junior Highs. After retirement, he was a substitute teacher for 24 years.  On June 3, 1956 he was united in marriage to Elaine Beyeler in Newcastle, NE.  Gene was an Abu Bekr Shriner for over 40 years and was a Shriner clown named “Sawdust” for many years.  He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in South Sioux City where he sang in the choir for 62 years and played in the bell choir.

Gene loved spending time with his family. He relished being a clown attending the circus, parades and making balloon animals for the children. As a talented carpenter, he made furniture, wooden trains, trucks, trikes, sleds and enjoyed displaying them at local craft fairs. He and Elaine had fun on their annual trips to Las Vegas. Gene also took many trips to the Black Hills as he loved attending the Days of 76 Parade in Deadwood and treasured the drive through the Spearfish Canyon. Gene had a passion for playing cards and loved to win.

Gene was kind, patient, gracious, an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, and clown.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife Elaine Cantrell, Dakota City, NE; children: Terry (Charmaine) Cantrell, Dakota City, NE, Dawn Bauerly, Dakota Dunes, SD, Dynelle (Brett) Downs, Sioux City, IA, Jenny (Craig) Schmidt, West Point, NE; 13 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Barbara Roseberry.