Gene Alt Eugene E. Alt)

Eugene Eldon Alt answered his Master at the age of 89, January 29th, 2010, at his home.

He was blessed to be the son of Roy and Matilda Alt, farmers from Panola, Illinois. The love of his life was his wife, Lee Alt, his two children, Sarah and John and his, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He and Lee were married June 22, 1947 in Neosho, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lee in November 2009 and was survived by his daughter Sarah Swanson and her husband, Gary of Bentonville, Arkansas and son John Alt of Omaha, Nebraska.

He served in the Army in WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre as Captain, remaining in the Army reserves for 26 years. He served on two Johnson County boards. He served on and chaired the Leawood City council and served as it's President and becoming Mayor upon the resignation of the presiding Mayor. He was elected for two additional years.

Gene was born March 23, 1920. He graduated from El Paso Township High in 1937. He assisted his parents on the farm for three years before attending the University of Illinois, graduating in 1947 with a BS in electrical engineering. He was a member of the Acacia Social Fraternity and a member of Scabbard and Blades, Military fraternity and PiTau Pi Sigma , an electrical engineering honorary fraternity. He was employed by AT&T for 34 years, retiring as a District Engineer. He was a long time member of Cherokee Christian Church, serving as a Deacon elder and Chairman of the Board. He was a member of the Leawood Lions Club and served twice as president. He was also a member of the Military Officers Association of America.

Gene was a true volunteer at heart. He worked tirelessly raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army over the years. In addition , the "Colonel" had total command of his yard and garden. Putting his farming know how and love for the land at work, he volunteered many years as a Master Gardener for the County Extension Office. With all of this said, our father and grandfather "Gene" Alt was real family man. He was a wonderful provider, his kindness and caring were never failing. He was always there to give advice and had a story to go with it. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke we all listened. There will never be a man that could walk in his footsteps. As he walked through life succeeding in all he did, we are fortunate to have call him Dad and Grandpa.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cherokee Christian Church, 7457 Cherokee Drive, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208.

Memorial Services

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2010, at Cherokee Christian Church. Friends may call from 10-11:00 a.m. Monday at the church. Inurnment with military honors for Mr. and Mrs. Alt will be 2:30 p.m. Monday in the Fort Leavenworth Cemetery.