Gene Waag, 84 of Akron, Iowa, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024 at the Akron Care Center in Akron

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Akron, Iowa. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Akron. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 4, 2024 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Carroll Eugene Waag was born on December 10, 1939 in Alcester, SD to George and Phoebe (Nagle) Waag. Gene was raised and attended school in Alcester. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1963. He attended basic training in San Antonio, Texas and received his communications training in Illinois. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

Gene was united in marriage to Bonnie Ryan on July 15, 1966 in Alvord, Iowa and they made their home in Akron.

Gene worked for ten years as a mechanic at the Ford Garage in Akron. In 1971, he purchased the Akron Auto Clinic with his business partner, Norman Heeren. Gene retired in 2001.

Gene enjoyed being out in nature as he was an avid fisherman and bow hunter. He enjoyed going on hunting trips and had several deer and bear trophies. He also liked gardening, both flower and vegetables, and gathering wild morel mushrooms and asparagus. Their family went camping often; Gene took the girls on lots of nature hikes and told many spooky stories around the campfire.

Gene was a long-time member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Albert E. Hoschler American Legion in Akron.  He was a board member and caretaker at the Riverside Cemetery in Akron and he also did building and cemetery maintenance at Pleasant Hill Chapel in rural Union County, South Dakota.  Gene volunteered with St. Patrick's to raise and deliver donations to the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Gene also was a city council member for Akron and a volunteer firefighter for the Akron Fire Department.

Gene is survived by two daughters: daughter, Carissa (Scott) Jacobs of Akron and their children: Nicholas and Josie, and daughter, Jeanna (Norman) Brown of Sioux City, Iowa; brother, Arden (Linda) Waag; and nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bonnie; granddaughter, Phoebe; brothers: Lee (Arlene) Waag and Eldon Waag; and sister in law, Norma Waag.