Eugene “Gene” Grobe, 62, of Ottawa died on Monday, September 25, at Advocate Good Samaritan Medical Center in Downer’s Grove. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 29, at St. Columba Church with the Rev. Jeff Windy, officiating. Interment in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park will be private. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Gene was born on June 17, 1955 in Ottawa to William and Mary Lou (Einhaus) Grobe. He was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, class of ’73. He married Holly Rafalski on October 16, 1976 at St. Columba Church. Gene served his apprenticeship at Burns Machine Company. He worked in Maintenance at L.O.F., then as the Maintenance Supervisor at MBL USA. He spent 6 months in Japan learning Japanese. Gene was an avid home chef, loved to fish and hunt, and most of all enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He owned and operated Superior Machine and Repair, and then worked at Caterpiller in Pontiac until retiring on August 31, of this year.
Gene is survived by his wife, Holly, his father, William (Zelpha), of Ottawa, two daughters, Kristin (Jack) Burnside, of Elmhurst, and Kayla (Brent) Moore, of Ottawa, 5 grandchildren: Karsyn, Makenna, and Cooper Moore, Mara and Maddox Burnside, one sister, Jennifer (Jeff) Carretto, of Ottawa, and two brothers, Michael (Kelly) Grobe, of Ottawa, and Jeff (Julie) Grobe of Ottawa.
He was preceded in death by his mother, and one brother Richard.
Memorials may be directed to the Physical Therapy Department at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.
Gene has been laid to rest in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Peace.