Eugene "Gene" Schmaljohn

Eugene “Gene” Schmaljohn, 73, of St. Paul, NE passed away on Monday June 8th, 2020 at his home. A celebration of life Open House will be held Friday June 12th from 1:00-4:00 at the St. Paul Golf Course. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St. Paul Golf Course for equipment (mom says no more trees). mail to: PO 87, St. Paul, NE 68873. Apfel funeral home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com or rasmussenfh.com.



Gene was born August of 1947 to Albert and Elda (Lorenz) Schmaljohn in Ravenna, NE. He grew up north of Ravenna on the family farm with a slew of brothers and sisters to get into trouble with. He attended District #19 Country School for elementary walking up hill both ways and finished high school in Ravenna. Gene dodged the draft and attended UNK where he got his teaching degree in Art. At UNK he also met the love of his life Marilyn Ripp who he was married to for almost 52 years. They had three ornery children and one really, good one (you know who you are). Gene taught K-12 Art, Careers and Lift Weight class in St. Paul Public Schools for 30+ years before he decided on early retirement to do the things he always wanted to do.



His passions included art, golf, riding motorcycles, softball, Jaycees, guys night at the bar, and most importantly attentive grandpa to ten very loving grandchildren. Sorry to other grandpa’s but Grandpa Geno was everyone’s favorite!



He is survived by his wife Marilyn Schmaljohn of St. Paul, NE; daughters: Tenise (Ryan) Jarecke of Burwell, NE, Jenae (Boyd) Belmas of Wausau, WI, son, Jeramy Schmaljohn, of Omaha, NE, daughter, Tammy (Kelly) Pinckney of Burwell, NE; grandchildren: Trystan and Rylee Jarecke, Olin and Nils Belmas, Jacob, Hannah, Nicholas and Michael Schmaljohn, and Holden and Evyn Pinckney; sisters: Karen O’Mara of IN, Susan (Dean) Haeker of SD; and brother, Alan (Amy) Schmaljohn of MD; and sister-in-law, Suzanne Schmaljohn of MO.



He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Russell Schmaljohn, and brother-in-law, Bill O’Mara.