Gene Barvels

Gene Wayne Barvels, 72, a resident of Rural Underwood, died Saturday December 18, 2010, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born on October 28, 1938, in Fairmont, the son of Roy H. and Marjorie (Suter) Barvels. Growing up in Fairmont, he graduated from High School in 1956. Gene served in the National Guard for one year then the United States Army for three years. On April 10, 1959, he married Ursula Leni Wilms in Karlsruhe, West Germany. Out of the Army he did a variety of jobs, including Hobby Farming, and working for his father doing painting and jack hammering. In addition he worked construction for K.W. Hodgmans, Minn-Kota Excavating, Lametti and Sons and for Knutson Co. Residing near Underwood, he was a member of the Tordenskjold Free Lutheran Church. He also was a member of Local Operating 49 ers and the International Union Of Operating Engineers. Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, gardening, woodworking, feeding the birds and the squirrels. He loved being around and visiting with family and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, a sister Viva Oven and a son Roland Barvels. Survivors include his wife Ursula; two daughters, Diane Barvels of St. Paul and Kathy Barvels of Underwood; three sons, Gene (Dawn) Barvels of New York Mills, James (Richelle) Barvels of Breckenridge, and Adrian (Linda) Barvels of Perham; a daughter in law, Cindy Barvels of Aberdeen, SD.; 11 grandchildren, Joshua and wife Elizabeth, Jonas, Chelsea, Amber, Brittany and husband David Nelson, Courtney, Dustin, Austin, Nicole, Melissa and Samuel; four great- grandchildren, Lucas, Breanna, Libby and Morgan; siblings, Barbara (Mervin) Malo of Fairmont, Garry (Mary) Barvels of St. Charles, Ruth (Duane) Spoo of Deer Park, WI, Nancy (Bruce) Spoo of Emerald, WI, Kevin (Sheryl) Barvels of Crookston, Jerome (Marcille) Barvels of Lake Lillian, Joel (Vanessa) Barvels of Stillwater, and a brother-in-law, Ron Oven of Winthrop, along with numerous nieces and nephews.