Please send your thoughts to the family by clicking on this link

"Gene" Eugene J. Budde

“Gene” Eugene J. Budde, 77, of rural Cairo, died Monday November 12, 2007, at the Good Samaritan Center in Wood River.

Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday at the All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island.  The Reverend Glen Keylon will officiate.  Burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Thursday at All Faiths Funeral Home. 

Gene was born October 18, 1930, at Norfolk, NE, the son of Conrad and Alida (Burkhead) Budde.  Gene spent his childhood in Northeast Nebraska before moving to Grand Island in 1946.  He graduated from Grand Island Senior High, Class of 1949.  Graduating from Hastings College in 1953, he continued his education at Kearney State College. 

On December 8, 1951, he was united in marriage to Nadene Joyce Peters.  They lived in Grand Island before making their home in rural Cairo.  Gene worked for the Grand Island Independent, Sperry New Holland, Chief Industries, as a custom hayer and was an instructor at Central Community College when he retired. 

Gene was Charter President for the Optimist Club, Hamm Radio President, served as President of Northwest School Board and Hall County Historical Society, served on the District 54 School Board, the Site Committee for 1-R School, and was a member of Hall County Sheriffs Posse, Grand Island Area Chamber, Loup Valley Chamber, Junior Chamber of Commerce, All American Singers, and the Antelope County Historical Society.  He produced many historical documentaries and authored over 400 articles for the Independent’s Silver Salute.  The “Hall County 150 Year Book” was dedicated to Gene.  Gene was instrumental in the preservation of the Plum Creek Station.  He was a contributing author of the “Trails of Times” picture history book. Gene received the 2007 Moonshell Literary Award.  His passion and dedication for history will be dearly missed.

Those also left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nadene; sons and daughters-in-law, Lynn and Sandy Budde of Phillips, Dennis and Kay Budde of Grand Island, Robby Budde of Marquette, NE, daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Mike Siwinski of Central City, NE;  grandchildren, Dorie Budde and her husband Jason King, Andrew, Laura, Ryan, Shaun, Danny, Jacob, Shelby and Sydnie Budde, Wyatt and Hannah Siwinski; great grandson Dante Budde-King and brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Betty Peters of Sun Lakes, AZ and George Rothwell of Colorado, Springs, CO.

His parents and a sister Carolyn Rothwell preceded him in death.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice or to the family.