Eugene "Gene" Uppena

Eugene L. Uppena, 90, of Blue Earth passed away January, 16 2016 at United Hospital of Blue Earth.Mass of Christian Burial will be 11am Thursday, January 21, 2016 at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, with visitation from 9-11am at the church. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery of Blue Earth.Gene was born March 31, 1925 at the farm in rural Cassville Wisconsin, to Louis and Alberta (Scanlan) Uppena. He graduated from Cassville High School and entered Wisconsin State College at Platteville, earning a BS degree in Agricultural Education in 1949.He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1946, and was then called back into active duty during the Korean Conflict and was discharged in 1953. On August 4, 1953 Gene married Juliet Mae Keller in Cassville, WI and together they raised their daughter, Mary Ann.Gene came to Blue Earth to teach the veteran agriculture program in the late 1940''s. He left to continue working in agriculture in Glencoe and Litchfield MN.He returned to teach adult agriculture at the vocational school in 1970, and continued his career in agriculture around the area.He was active in the Legion, VFW, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Paulist Players and the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Blue Earth. Gene enjoyed woodworking, playing golf, cards and traveling to his home in the south during the winter. He will be remembered for being a kind and caring Christian gentleman.Gene is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann of Fort Worth TX; sister-in-law, Irene Keller of Atlanta, GA and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 53 years, Juliet; siblings, Robert (Helen) Uppena, Charles (Mary) Uppena, John (Pauline) Uppena, Marian Uppena and Margaret (Walter) Hauk; in-laws, Carl Keller, Gertrude (Floyd) Arends and Gerhard Keller.