H. Gene Yeazel

SIDNEY – H. Gene Yeazel, 73, of Carmel, Ind., formerly of Sidney, passed away at 10:57 a.m. EST Tuesday (Feb. 28, 2017) at home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Sidney United Church, Sidney, with the Rev. Mike Picklesimer officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Sidney, with military rites being accorded. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Freese Funeral Home, Sidney, is handling arrangements.

Mr. Yeazel was born April 15, 1943, in Danville, a son to Harold and Verniece Sylvester Yeazel. He married Susan Collins on July 31, 1971, at Clarksville, Ind.; they were married for 45 years; she survives. Also surviving are three sons, Adam Yeazel of Bloomington, Hans (JP) Yeazel of Bloomington and Lucas (Damari) Yeazel of Carmel; four grandchildren, Ashlyn and Emmy Yeazel and Aiden and Lillian Yeazel; a brother, Bob (Diane) Yeazel of St. Joseph; two stepbrothers, Kent (Linda) Krukewitt of Homer and Lynn (Kathy) Krukewitt of Texas; and a stepsister, Jo (Case) Mazic of Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Gene served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years. He was an insurance producer for 31 years for Country Companies in the Homer/Sidney area. After retiring from insurance, he worked in real estate for six years. He was a member of Sidney Lion's Club and was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Free Mason.

He loved taking long drives and traveling with his wife and children; he especially enjoyed San Belle Island in Florida. As a young man, he was a great trumpet player; he played taps at many Memorial Day celebrations and local military rites and also played in dance bands. He played football for Jamaica during the team's undefeated season in 1959.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905.