Leonard "Gene" Davis

Leonard Eugene Davis (Gene), age 94, died on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at the Minnesota Veterans Home, Fergus Falls.

Gene was born in Winfield, KS on July 14, 1922. He was the 3rd child of Mary Mitchell and Elmer Davis. The family moved to California when Gene was 2 years old in an attempt to improve his health.

Gene, his mother and sister moved to Hawaii while his step-father, a navy man, was stationed in Honolulu. He joined the track team at school and especially enjoyed cross country. He worked in the pineapple fields after school and learned enough Hawaiian to communicate with the islanders.

Eventually, the family moved back to San Diego where Gene attended high school. He loved sports and participated in track and football.

In September, 1940, Gene joined the navy at the age of 18. He was on the USS California at Pearl Harbor. The ship was sunk but salvaged and sailed to the Bremerton shipyard near Seattle, WA for further repairs. While there, he met Edna and they married on April 10, 1943. Gene’s orders kept him on the California and in the Pacific theater for the duration of the war. He was released from active duty in November 1946.

Shortly after being released, the young family moved to Fergus Falls MN, Edna’s hometown. They eventually moved to the farm that Edna grew up on and raised their growing family and became active members of the church and community. Gene retired from the Post Office in 1982. After retirement he enjoyed living on Fish Lake and wintering in Florida. He loved hunting, fishing, traveling, and talking with people.

He was preceded in death by his wife Edna, brothers Everett and Charlie Bill, sisters Ruby and Wanda, grandson James Lee and son-in-law Jon Pollack.

He is survived by his children David (Rolene) Davis, Ruthy (Gary) Kugler, Renie Pollack, Mitch (Vi) Davis, grandchildren Dee (Gordy) Granrath, Jeff (Mandy) Davis, Leon (Steph) Kugler, Casey (Susan) Kugler, Melissa (Rob) Larson, John Pollack, Andy Pollack, Stacy (Jason) Wiczek, Eugene (Kate) Davis, Nicole (Nic) Beck; 26 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Wendell Peterson of Montevideo and sisters-in-law, Elizabeth (Doug) Easterlund of Sartell, Winnifred Peterson of El Paso, TX, and Pamela Peterson of Big Lake and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2016, at the Olson Funeral Home and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2016, at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Reverend Ben Hosch
Interment: Stavanger Cemetery in Fergus Falls
Arrangements by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.