Obituary of Eugene Braschler

Eugene W. "Gene" Braschler of Fairdealing, Missouri, son of B. Weaver and Frona Patterson Braschler, passed away on January 29, 2012. He was born on December 11, 1924 in Pratt, Missouri, and graduated from Doniphan High School in 1943. He served during World War II with the U.S. Army Combat Engineers. Gene was among the very first returning GI's to enroll at the University of Missouri under the GI Bill of June 22, 1944. He received his honorable discharge from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on August 31, 1947. On March 26, 1949, he married Phoebe J. Allen in Boonville, Missouri. She passed away January 13, 2003. Gene worked as a naturalist at Meramec State Park. He returned to the University of Missouri, graduating in June, 1950. He began his career with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, at the Savanna Ordinance Depot in Black Hawk, Illinois on a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gene and Phoebe's first child, Martha Elizabeth (Betsey), was born in Savanna, Illinois. The family was transferred in 1951 to New Castle, Wyoming, where their second daughter, Ellen Patterson, was born. The family moved to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, McNary, Arizona, where a third daughter, Laura Nan, was born. The family received a transfer to Uvalde, Texas, where their fourth daughter, Lisa Jane, was born. Marion, Alabama, was the next location that the Braschlers were transferred; after a very short time, Gene became the first departmental trainer/intern for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They moved to Falls Church, Virginia, so he could attend George Washington University where he was on special assignment with the Department of the Interior. The family was then transferred to Albuquerque, New Mexico, followed by Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where a son, David Weaver, was born. They were transferred to Cedar Bluff, Kansas, where their youngest child, Julie Anna, was born. The next transfer was to St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Midwest Regional Office and the final transfer in 1968 to Atlanta, Georgia, (Southeast Region) where he retired in 1984 as the Assistant Director of the Southeast Region Fisheries Division. Gene and Phoebe returned to their beloved Ozarks in 1987. Gene supported the Current River Heritage Museum & Gift Shop, DNAP, the Doniphan Historical Society, the Doniphan Library, and the First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff. He was an authority on Braschler genealogy and the Civil War in Southeast Missouri. Gene and Phoebe gave much time and love to compiling the award winning "The History and Families of Ripley County", published in 2002, with the Ripley County Historical Society. Gene also contributed many articles to the Prospect News about the Braschler family's journey from Switzerland to Ripley County and the Pattersons of Southeast Missouri. He also wrote about regional lore of this part of the Ozarks. Mr. Braschler was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Ruth Marie and his brother, Jack Gibson and by his wife of 53 years, Phoebe. He is survived by his dear sister Naomi Burger (Kitty); his six children, Mrs. Michael Abrams, Peachtree Corners, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. Phil Eve, Cumming, Georgia; Mr. and Mrs. Don Nash, Lilburn, Georgia; Ms. Lisa J. Braschler, Columbia, Missouri; Mr. and Mrs. David W. Braschler, Hoschton, Georgia; and Ms. Julie A. Braschler, Fairdealing, Missouri. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren, Philip H. Eve IV, Rachel Beth Eve, Matthew B. Abrams, Rebecca Anne Abrams, Karen Dillard, Charlie Thayer, Vincent Thayer, Jim Foltz, Sam Foltz, Daniel Braschler, Anna Beth Braschler, and Kristin Braschler, and four great-grandchildren, Reagan Eve, Caroline Eve, Preston Eve, and Phoebe Dillard. He is also survived by his very good friend, Edith Rush of Doniphan, Missouri. Memorials may be made in Gene's name to the Current River Heritage Museum. Visitation will be Friday night at Edward's Funeral Home from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral will be conducted on Saturday, February 4, at the First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff, Missouri at 10:00 am. Rev. Mark Janke, nephew of Mr. Braschler will officiate. A graveside service will begin at Pratt Cemetery at 2:00 pm.