Eugene F. “Gene” Niebuhr, age 94 of Clinton, passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the Alverno. Private family services will be held on Saturday, March 20th at St. John Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery. The Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Gene was born in Clinton on November 24, 1926, the son of Herman and Bernice (Danielsen) Niebuhr. He graduated from Lyons High School and received his civil engineering degree from Iowa State University in Ames. He served in the U.S. Army during W.W. II. Gene married Helen Schmidt on September 4, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church. Gene began working for the City of Clinton in 1950. He was appointed City Engineer in 1962 and the Public Works Director in 1983. He was very proud of his work on the 1965 and 1968 Flood Control Projects, major street paving and widening and the development of the US 30/67 Corridor Study. Gene was a licensed Civil Engineer and registered land surveyor and continued working into his 90’s. Gene was a member of St. John Lutheran Church where he served as an usher, elder and President of the Congregation. He and Helen were members of the former Odeon Club. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, boating and following the Hawkeye’s, Cubs, and Cyclones.
Gene is survived by his wife Helen; 3 children, Barbara (Dan) Jepsen of Port Byron, IL, Larry (Pam) Niebuhr of Eldridge, IA and Jeffrey (Sharon) Niebuhr of Clinton; son-in-law, Kent Widmer of Williamsburg, IA; 8 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Marian Enwright of Clinton, Donna (David) Chatfield of Bloomington, MN and Carol Stuedemann of Camanche and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Pam; a grandson, Joel; and a brother, Jack. Memorials in Gene’s name may be made to St. John Lutheran Church.