Eugene Edward Meintel, 'Gene' Born August 20, 1930 in Wheeling W.Va., passed away March 11, 2017 in Shorewood, IL. Gene is survived by Dorothy Rosalie (Forte) Meintel, Loving and devoted wife for 65 years, married on August 11, 1951 in Joliet, IL Children: Lois O''Donnell, Julia Nickel, Patricia (Steve) Scott, Louis (Cheryl) Meintel, Eugenia (Bill) Sobodas, Doug (Connie) Parini. Gene and Dolly have 19 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews around the country that he treated as his own children throughout their lives. Preceded in death by his parents: Louis Walter Meintel and Cosie Belle (Cox) Meintel; Daughter, Florence (Lorie) Parini; son-in-law, Teddy J. Wright; grandson, Louis Eugene Meintel. Gene graduated from Tridelphia High School in W. VA. He then served in the US Marine Corp in Guam during the Korean War for 3 years and then served as a Marine Drill Instructor in Parris Island, S.C. for a year. After serving in the military, Gene returned to Joliet with his beautiful wife and worked 2-3 jobs as they raised their 6 children. He retired from Commonwealth Edison after 34 years of dedicated and honorary service as a Master Mechanic and Area Maintenance Engineer, and an esteemed member and contributor of the Total Job Management Team for Nuclear Power Plants around the area. Gene did not stop working after retirement. He made things, he fixed things, he devoted his life to everyone who needed anything. He became a connoisseur cook and fed the hungry. He took care of the sick and the dying. Gene was bigger than life to everyone who ever had the honor of meeting him. He was a true Patriarch of the family and he was our Hero. It was his passion for his family, his troops, his employees, his church, and his friends that gave him the drive to always better himself, to become more knowledgeable about everything he did. He will be dearly missed, and we are so grateful to have had him for 86 beautiful years. He is with his family in heaven now. A very special thank you to the Hospice Team, especially nurse, Jennifer, who were so dedicated and kind-hearted during this most difficult time. A service to honor Gene''s life will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park I in Joliet on Tuesday March 14, 2017 at 11am. No services at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers Memorials to Joliet Area Community Hospice would be appreciated.