Eugene I. "Gene" Trine

Funeral services for Eugene “Gene” I. Trine, age 93, of Madison, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 17, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. Reverend Caitlin Bentzinger will officiate.

Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the Air Force Honor Guard, American Legion Post 35, and VFW Post 5763. 

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the church. 

Resseguie Funeral Home in Madison is in charge of arrangements.

Gene passed away Friday, January 10, 2025, at Heritage at Fountain Point in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Eugene “Gene” Ira Trine was born on April 1, 1931, to Alta Violet (Chittenden) Trine and Sterling Morton Trine, the youngest of four sons. Gene was born on the family farm southeast of Madison and lived on the farm, attending Liberty school through the ninth grade. He attended Madison High School, graduating in 1948. He then enlisted in the Air Force, attending Radio mechanics school at Scott AFB and served at various bases around the country. He served in Korea and Japan from 1951-1952 receiving an Honorable Discharge.

Gene attended radio and TV school in Kansas City for two years. He married Phyllis Sunderman on August 20th, 1953. He joined the Philco Tech Rep division doing contract work on Air Force Bases in Alaska, California and Utah. Gene joined the ACE Division of Cook Electric and did contract work for the Air Force in Georgia and Alabama, helping to develop a high-power HF radio link for ballistic missile testing. In 1962, he joined Collins Radio Co. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa then in 1964 he joined STELMA Co and Data Management Sciences in Connecticut where he worked on various data communication systems – the forerunner of the internet.

Gene and Phyllis returned to Madison in 1986, building an earth shelter home on the family farm east of town in Stanton County. Gene worked for various local companies and served as a handyman. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and served on the board of trustees. He was a life member of VFW Post 5763, serving as quartermaster and post commander and was a member of the American Legion Post 35. He served on the Madison Senior Citizens board, the Madison County Historical Society, Madison Cemetery Association and Preservation Madison. Gene was instrumental in the preservation of the Madison Presbyterian Church as a community art center and the preservation of the Barnes Cemetery. Gene managed the Crown Hill Cemetery for many years.

Gene was an avid woodworker, gardener, photographer, traveler and loved camping with the family. Many weekends and vacations were spent in tents in various national and state parks. He traveled for business and pleasure to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean Islands, Greece, Yugoslavia, Great Britian, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, enjoyed many river cruises in the U.S. and Europe and went around the world on a cargo ship with Phyllis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sterling and Alta; and his brothers, Stuart, Keith, and James.

Eugene is survived by his wife of 71 years, Phyllis; son, Steven and wife Linda of Keller, TX; daughters, Denise of Madison and Sheila Bloom and husband Paul of Tonganoxie, KS, eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorials suggested to the Madison Historical Society.

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