Eugene "Gene" Westrick

Eugene (Gene) Westrick, age 92 of Defiance, passed away early Friday morning, November 1, 2019 surrounded by his family at his home in Defiance, Ohio.  
 
Gene was born on May 4, 1927 in New Bavaria, Ohio to Urban and Emma (Frey) Westrick. He Married Bernice (Clemens) Westrick on July 28, 1951. Gene was a graduate of Holgate High School in 1945. After high school, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corp where he took his basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina. After basic training he was transferred to the Great Lakes Naval Base in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he served at the Marine Corp Discharge Office until his own discharge in 1947. Gene worked at Lectrolite Corporation in Defiance, Lima Hamilton Corporation, and then went to General Motors on August 12, 1948 where his badge number was 37. Gene worked at General Motors until his retirement on January 1, 1984. From 1955 until his retirement, he worked a second job.Those jobs included the Jewel Telephone Company as a line repairman, the United States Postal Service as a rural letter carrier, and farming. Although he worked two jobs for many years, he found time to go camping most weekends in the summer and always for two weeks in July with his family. After retirement, Gene and Bernice spent many of their winters in Florida. Gene became an avid cyclist in 1993 and formed the Northwest Ohio Peddlers Bicycle Club. He also took part in many bicycle trips over the years and was very proud of the fact that he rode 75 miles on his 75th birthday. Gene also traveled to the Holy Land and to Rome and said recently that he would love to go back.

Gene was a devote Catholic his whole life. He was ordained to the Deaconate for the Diocese of Toledo in 1976 and served as a permanent Deacon at St. Michael's Ridge Catholic Church and St. John's Catholic Church in Defiance.

Gene is survived by his sons, Steve (Brenda) Westrick of Defiance, and Tom (Susan) Westrick of Rittman, OH, daughters, Deb Cash of Maumee, Barb Westrick of Defiance, and Linda (John) Hayes of Northwood. He is also survived by five grandchildren; Christopher Cash of Maumee, Jordan (Brittany) Westrick of Defiance, Mollie Westrick of Defiance, Megan (Andrew) Karmol of Walbridge, and Jacob (Emily) Greear of Whitehouse. Gene also leaves behind great-grandchildren who loved him dearly. Gene is also survived by a brother, Art (Georgie) Westrick of New Bavaria, and sisters, Irene (Dick) Wenzinger of Miller City, Edith Ott of Defiance, Donna (Tom) Barlage of Leipsic, Danilda Lee of Bowling Green, and Caroline Schmitz of Ottawa.
 
Gene was preceded in death by his wife of  63 years, Bernice, his parents, his sisters, Evelyn Drummer and Mary Catherine Heyman, and his brothers, Lawrence, Paul, and Harold Westrick.
 
Visitation will be held from 2-8 pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at St. John's Catholic Church, with a Vesper Vigil Service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will also take place from 10:00 to 11:00 am before the service on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 6th at the church, with Fr. Eric Mueller officiating.  
 
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Catholic Church, or Ohio Living Hospice of Greater Toledo.

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