Gene Frank Badker

On September 22, 2021, surrounded by his wife, family and friends the Lord called his son, Gene Frank Badker home. Gene was born on February 17, 1947 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Frank Albert Badker and Virginia Louise Badker.

A committal ceremony was held at the Eagle Point Veterans Cemetery on September 30, 2021. A life celebration will be held in the spring of 2022, friends and family will be notified of the date at a later time.

Gene graduated with the class of 1966 from Klamath Union High School where he played football, baseball, basketball and track. He recently attended his 55th reunion where he was able to catch up with many old friends.

After graduating from High School, Gene was employed by Boeing Aircraft in Renton, Washington where he also attended night classes at Green River Community College. While working at Boeing he was drafted to the United States Army where he served state side as well as oversees in Germany from 1966 to 1968.

After Gene was honorably discharged from the service in 1968 he returned home to Klamath Falls, where he and his wife, of almost 53 years, Susan Baker, were married on November 19, 1968 in Oakland, California. Shortly after they were married Gene and Susan moved to Renton, Washington where Gene returned to his position at Boeing Aircraft. Within the next year, Gene was offered a job in Casper, Wyoming with the company White Ditching. The young couple made the move to Wyoming where they began their family. A few years later, Gene and his family moved back to Klamath Falls where he was employed by Columbia Forrest Products. Gene retired from Columbia as the Green End Supervisor in 2001.

Gene coached both of his sons from T-ball all the way through Babe Ruth and also spent many hours maintaining the Little League and Babe Ruth fields which he took great pride in. Throughout the years Gene loved to watch all of his grandkids play all of their various sports, (except when it was freezing outside)!

Gene was an avid outdoorsman and loved to be out fishing and hunting as much as possible. He passed this passion along to his family who will forever be grateful for all of the great memories that they were able to share with him. In the winter months he loved to be out in the garage with his sons reloading bullets and passing on his knowledge. He also loved working on various projects and building things. The family has been left with a hand-made apple press that will be gratefully used with fond memories for years to come.

Gene never knew a stranger and always had a joke or funny story to tell. If you knew Gene, you knew that he was one of the most loving, giving people that you would ever meet. His friends and family always knew that they could count on Gene for anything.

Gene is survived by his wife of 53 years, Susan, daughter and son in law, Jenean and Kevin Shannon, son and daughter in law, Rick and Rhonda Badker, son and daughter in law, Ryan and Jamie Badker, grandchildren; James (Kayla) Hull, Cody (Taylor) Badker, Liz (Andrew) Hull, Justin (Parker) Shannon, Dale (Niquel) Lambert, Brendan Badker, Wyatt (Erin) Lambert, Trevor Shannon, Chelsea Badker, Bryson Badker, Hannah Badker, numerous great grandchildren, sister and brother in law Janice and Gary Maxwell, brother in law Clyde Burt, numerous brothers and sisters in law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends Steve and Barb Hargrove, Blake and Roseanne Griggs. Preceding Gene in death by 8 days was his sister Joyce Burt, parents Frank and Virginia Badker as well as his sister Janie who passed away at birth.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff at High Dessert Hospice for the care that they gave to Gene in his home as well as the very caring staff at Sky Lakes Medical Center that were so loving to Gene and our family at a very difficult time.