Eugene C. Barthel

Eugene "Gene" Charles Barthel, 76, of Freeport, Illinois, graduated to Heaven on June 30, 2026. Born on January 22, 1950, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, Gene lived a life centered on faith, family, and helping others.

Faith was the foundation of Gene's life. A devoted follower of Christ, he made it his mission to share Jesus' love with everyone he met—right up until the end.

Gene loved his family and treasured the time they spent together. He taught his sons many things, from carpentry and electronics to the importance of faith, and was a mentor they could talk to about anything. Gene found humor in everyday life and had a gift for meaningful conversations.

He enjoyed blues music, watching movies, fixing broken things, and spending time fishing. Even if the fish weren't biting, a day on the water was a good day. Fishing reminded Gene that Jesus called His followers to be fishers of men.

Gene especially enjoyed working as a caregiver for individuals with special needs at Malcolm-Eaton, where his patience and kindness left a lasting impact on those he served. He also spent many years as a commercial printer, working at Johnson Press, Rockford Litho, and Black Dot.

Gene is survived by his loving wife, Donna; his four sons, Tony (Meredith), Chris (Desiree), Mike (Andrea), and Nick (Laura); his grandchildren, Ashleighna, Alex, Maganna, Mason, Aurora, Marshall, and Franklin; six great-grandchildren; his brother, Tony Barthel; and his sister, Kathy Miekle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and several brothers and sisters.

Our family's hearts are heavy, but "Pop" is finally home and walking with Jesus. We'll miss him every day, but we're thankful for the promise that we'll see him again.

Private family services will be held at Gene's request.