Gene Fuqua

Eugene Franklin Fuqua (1939-2021) Eugene Franklin Fuqua, 82, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, surrounded by family at his bedside. Gene was born July 11, 1939, in McCook, Nebraska, to Frank and Verla (Matson) Fuqua, the younger of two children. He grew up in the Assembly of God Church and spent most of his childhood in Dawson County, Nebraska, becoming particularly close to his grandfather, Harry Fuqua. He attended Lexington High School. Gene joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War. He served in the Navy for 11 years and continued military service in the National Guard and U.S. Navy Reserves. He was formerly active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. Gene married Patricia Price in 1957 and together they had three children. He was also briefly married to Bonnie (Frank) Stoeger before moving his family to Arizona. There, he met Georgia “Jo” (Reineer) Allison and they later married on March 12, 1983, in Bertrand, Nebraska. Gene and Jo lived several years in Elwood, Nebraska, Lake Los Angeles, California, and Broken Bow, Nebraska. Later in life, they enjoyed a lot of adventures together in their fifth wheel. Gene loved boating, antique guns, Husker’s football, drinking good whiskey and most of all, his family. Gene was preceded in death by his father, Henry Franklin Fuqua; mother, Verla Cantwell; sister, Donna Norris; son, Terry Fuqua; daughter, Donna Fuqua; and stepson, Leroy Allison. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Georgia Fuqua; son, Bradley Fuqua (Canda), of Philomath, Oregon; stepson, Bryon Allison, of Phoenix, Arizona; stepdaughter, Rhonda Sheneman (Duane), of Broken Bow; stepdaughter, Elizabeth White (Mike), of Broken Bow; 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. The family will host a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow. The memorial service will be livestreamed at www.govierbrothers.com. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery south of Maxwell. Govier Brothers Mortuary is handling arrangements. An online guestbook can be signed at this link. A register book may also be signed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10 at the mortuary, which is located at 542 S. Ninth St., in Broken Bow. If desired, donations may be made to the Linda Tolton Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (click on this link) or any organization that supports research to fight pancreatic cancer.