GENE SAMDAHL MASON
GENE SAMDAHL MASON
Gene Samdahl Mason was born Feb. 14, 1940, in Black River Falls to Harriet (Peterson) and George Mason. He passed away peacefully July 20, 2024, at the Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem, WI.
He attended Irving Country School and then graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1959. After graduation, he worked for Hoffman Construction until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1962. Gene spent two years as a military policeman at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was discharged from active duty in 1964.
Gene and Barbara (Swiggum) were married in September 1963, and they lived in Missouri before moving to the Peterson family farm (Big Pete’s) located in Black River Falls. Gene worked for the Wisconsin DNR fire control as a heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1997 and became a volunteer for Jackson County Interfaith Caregivers and Jackson County Friends Sharing Food. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.
Gene is survived by his wife, Barbara; his sons, Bill (Dana) and Michael; daughter Mary (Earl) Hammond; his six grandchildren, Madilyn (Alec) Vinstra, Abby Mason, Max and Samantha Hammond and Brennan and Sara Mason; his niece Michelle (Chris) Bennet; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Max; and his mother- and father-in-law, Walter and Arlene Swiggum.
The open house for Gene will be held at the Buswell Funeral Home in Black River Falls from 3 to 6 p.m. with military honors at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024. The celebration of life will continue at the Black River Falls American Legion after the open house until 8 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Black River Interfaith Caregivers, Alzheimer's Association, or a charity of your choice.
Thank you to the staffs of the Morrow Home - Sparta, the Mulder Health Care Facility - West Salem and the ninth floor nursing staff at Mayo Hospital - La Crosse. We especially appreciated the help afforded to Gene and the family by the St. Croix Hospice staff.