Gene Lyle Siegert

Gene Lyle Siegert, our loving husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend passed away April 13, 2015 in Spokane, Wash. 

Gene was born, Gaelon Francis Oberby in Enderlin, N. D. on Jan. 19, 1936 and adopted by Albert and Luella Siegert in 1941. In 1955, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, proudly serving for 23 years. 

In 1959, Gene married the love of his life, Ovidette "Vi" Couillard. In just a few short years Gene and Vi were blessed with two children, son Daniel (1959) and daughter Debra (1960).

The Air Force moved the family around to bases in New York, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Washington state and South Dakota. Following his retirement in 1978, the family returned to the Cheney area and Gene began 26 years of service at Gonzaga University in the maintenance department where, if it couldn't be fixed by Gene, then clearly there was not a tool yet made to accomplish that task.

He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, his sister Joanne, children Daniel (Roxanne) Siegert of Davenport, Wash. and Debra (Michael) O'Neill of Riverside, Calif. He will forever remain a hero in the hearts of his granddaughters; Dannielle "Tiff" (Jeremiah) Choate, Tabitha Siegert (Jamie Collins), Karri (Brian) Quill, Shelby (Kurt) Hascall and Erin O'Neill, great-grandchildren Makayla, Nathan, Daniel, Elias, Kailey, and Sofie. Gene will also be missed by his best friend George Erdely, as well as numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and his dog Dutch. Gene was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services were held April 21 with interment at the Washington State Veteran's Cemetery. Visit online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.