Eugene ‘Gene’ Irvin Balow

Eugene “Gene” Irvin Balow, of Lake City and formerly of rural Red Wing, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the age of 94, at the High Street House in Lake City where he resided. He was born December 3, 1928, in Wabasha to Irvin and Florence (Lager) Balow. Gene grew up in rural Wabasha attending Greenfield School and graduating from St. Felix Catholic School in Wabasha in 1947. He went on to serve his country in the US Army during the early years of the Korean Conflict as a Technical Sargent from November 12, 1948 to June 25, 1952. After his military service he married Mary Louise Ahlers in 1952 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Miesville and moved to rural Red Wing. Marylou, died in April 1963. On September 28, 1963, he married Alvina Helen Busch at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City.
Gene lived in rural Red Wing and was employed by the Railway Express Agency in Red Wing from 1952 to 1968. In 1957 he began farming, a profession that would be his primary occupation through his retirement in 2010. He also worked for S.B. Foote Tanning from 1968 until 1975, and at Archer Daniels Midland from 1975 to 1998.
Gene was active in his community and served on the Florence Township Board in Goodhue County for many years. He was a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Wing where he served on the church board. Currently he was a member of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City and active in the Knights of Columbus. Gene was a member of the Lake City American Legion Post 110 and Lake City V.F.W. Post 8729.
Gene is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Alvina Balow of Lake City; children, Michael (Donna) Balow of Brighton, MI, David (Laurie) Balow of Lake City, Philip (Jane) Balow of Prior Lake, Mary Pat Danckwart of Kellogg, Kathy (Wayne) Dudley of Lake City, Becky (Bruce) Benrud of Goodhue, Tom (Dawn) Balow of Lake City, and John (Jillian) Balow of Mosely, VA; brother, Dr. James (Mary) Balow of MD;27 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Mary Louise Balow, siblings, Richard Balow, Robert Balow, and Eileen Demming, and granddaughter, Beth Benrud.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 1, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha with Father James Russell officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Lake City with Military Rites by the Lake City VFW Post #8729 and American Legion Post #110. Friends and family may visit on Thursday, November 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Arrangements by Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel. Guest register may be signed at www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com