Gene Lewis Cathcart, 96, died on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 at the Golden Living Center in Roseville, Minnesota.
Gene was born on June 21, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan to Wilbur and Marella Cathcart. After growing up in Detroit and graduating from high school, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. In between those military stints, Gene moved to Grand Marais, married Joyce Younk, and built homes in Grand Marais for his parents and his own family. It was also during those years that he became a master electrician and launched the North Shore Electric Shop.
Gene was an active member of the community. He joined the Masonic Lodge, the Lions Club, the American Legion, the Sawtooth Mountain Ski Club, and the Gunflint Hills Golf Club. He served as chairman of the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission for many years.
After raising their family, Gene and Joyce moved to Bloomfield, N.M., where Gene continued to work as an electrician until his retirement in 1983. In his later years Gene enjoyed woodcarving, playing golf, and painting watercolor portraits of his family members.
Gene and Joyce managed the Enchantment Village Trailer Park until Joyce’s death in 2006. Gene then moved back to Minnesota and has lived at the North Ridge Masonic Home in New Hope for the past nine years.
His brother Wilbur Jr., his sister Rosetta Peterson, his parents, his wife, and his granddaughter Heather Cathcart preceded Gene in death.
He is survived by his children Terry (Sue), Peggy Bonneville (Ken), Scotty (Pam) and his “adopted son”/nephew Philip Gene Peterson (Joanne), along with his niece Daaiyah Kashif, his brother-in-law Nick Younk (Jane); seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews.
A Masonic memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at Cavallin Funeral Home in Grand Marais. Burial will follow at the Maple Hill Cemetery near Grand Marais. To sign the online register book visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.
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