Gene Getz

Gene Getz, 78 year old resident of Pelican Rapids, MN formerly of Swanville, MN passed away Monday, April 1, 2019 at Evansville Care Campus in Evansville, MN. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, April 8, 2019 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN with Rev. Kevin Zellers officiating. Burial will take place in St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery in Swanville, MN. A visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. on Monday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN. Funeral arrangement are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville, MN. Gene Adolph Getz was born on April 9, 1940 in Hutchinson, MN to the late Dan and Hattie (Rasmussen) Getz. He was raised in the Swanville, MN area and graduated from Swanville High School. Following graduation, Gene went to work for Hartz Mountain, which supplied pet stores with aquarium fish and equipment. He entered service with the U.S. Army in 1963 until being honorably discharged in 1965. Gene then went to work for Aquarium Supply until 1969, when he opened his own store called The Pet Center in Sioux Falls, SD, and later a second one in Brookings, SD. In 1978, Gene moved up to the Fargo, ND area and started FM Landscaping, which he operated until 2000 when he suffered a heart attack, when he officially retired. In retirement, Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing. He participated in the local softball leagues and was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Gene was devoted to his faith and church, the Worldwide Church of God, going on retreats with them and studying the Bible. In 2009, he moved to Pelican Rapids, MN, where he helped his son, Chris with the landscaping business. Gene loved being a “Grandpa” and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially the Christmas gathering held every year in Long Prairie, MN. Gene was a true friend, generous with his time and always willing to help. Gene is survived by his sons, Chris (Angela) Getz of Pelican Rapids and Aaron Getz of Portland, OR; grandchildren, Mason and Tucker Maus, Nolan and Ava Getz; brother, Gerald (Clarice) Getz of St. Cloud, MN; sisters, Delores (Dick) Dahlquist of Randall, MN, JoAnn Getz Grissom of Dallas, TX, and Betty Runke of Hutchinson, MN. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Dan and Hattie Getz; brothers, Roger and Donald Getz; and sisters, Shirley Beers, Elaine Strom, and Alice Harrington.

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Gene Getz

April 9, 1940 - April 1, 2019