Harlan Eugene "Gene" Hiett

Harlan Eugene "Gene" Hiett, age 86, of Clinton, Iowa, passed away on February 26, 2014 at Mercy medical Center North Facility. Gene was born on January 18, 1928 near Berwick, Illinois, the son of Harlan and Mabel (Icenogle) Hiett. He was a graduate of Roseville Township High School in 1946. Following school, he served in the U.S. Army with the occupation forces of Okinawa, Japan from 1947-1948. He later attended Western Illinois State Teachers College in Macomb, Illinois for two years. Gene was also a member of the Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. He was united in marriage to Genevieve Hillen on November 24, 1950. Gene hired out on the M&StL Railway as a fireman in Monmouth, Illinois in 1950. As a locomotive engineer with the C&NW, he transferred to Marshalltown, Iowa in 1969, and Clinton, Iowa in 1979, retiring in 1989. He served in various capacities in the United Transportation Union, United Methodist men and the Church, NARVE, VFW, Y's Men, Boy Scouts, and NOMADS. Among his many interests were spending time with family and friends, people-watching, travel, dancing, current events, and sports. He once remarked that he loved being a father, "except those years between '69 and '84. Gene is survived by his wife, Genevieve; children John (Mary Adams); Cynthia (Mike) Porter; Diana (Timothy) Nichols; a daughter-in-law, Karen Higgins; a sister, Carol Bower; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Chet and Bob; daughter, Amy; son Andrew; and daughter-in-law, Peggy Hiett. Services:Services were conducted on February 28, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Iowa. A graveside committal of ashes will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the Berwick Cemetery. Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth is entrusted with local arrangements.