Eugene Wegner

Eugene R. Wegner, 85, of Sarasota, Florida and Kewadin, Michigan, and formerly of Midland and Bay City, Michigan, died Sunday, December 2, 2012.

Gene (Huey) was born on April 24, 1927, in Midland, the son of Bill and Minnie Wegner. He graduated from Midland High School in 1945 and joined the United States Army where he was a radio operator in Germany with the Occupation Forces. Following his military service he attended the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1951. He then took a position with Dow Chemical in Midland as a Chemical Engineer.

In 1952, he married the love of his life, Margaret Hall. They were married on October 4, 1952, in Midland. Gene and his family moved to Bay City in 1957, where he worked for Dow’s Bay City Operations for over twenty years. In 1978 the family moved to Korea, still with Dow Chemical, where he served as an advisor to the Korean government on ethylene plant operations. Since his retirement in 1984, he and his wife have resided in Sarasota, Florida, and summered at their cottage in Kewadin, Michigan.

Gene was a former member of the Bay City Elks Club, and the American Contract Bridge League. He loved to play bridge and attended many tournaments, traveling to Hawaii, New Orleans, and Miami, among other places.

Gene is survived by his wife, Margaret Wegner of Sarasota, Florida, and his children, Linda Wegner of Boulder, Colorado, Michael (Ana) Wegner of White Lake, Michigan, Jo Ann (James) Moloci, of Kingsley, Michigan, and James (Belinda) Wegner of West Olive, Michigan, grandchildren Karl and Jacob Wegner, and sister, Dorothy Posthumus of Traverse City, Michigan.

Cremation has taken place. An informal Celebration of Life and luncheon will be held at 12:00 noon, on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Bucks Run Golf Club, 1559 South Chippewa Road, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The family will greet friends starting from 11:30 AM. Memorial Contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016 or the University of Michigan, 3003 South State St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 designate Chemical Engineering Fund or to a charity of your choice.

Please visit Gene’s web page at www.lifestorynet.com to read more, sign the guest book, and share a message or memory with his family. The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City, to handle the arrangements.