Gene Paul Bequette, 85, of Festus died Aug. 26, 2022, at his home. Mr. Bequette, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was a retired quality manager after 41 years with McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing). He was a member of Masonic Lodge 119 in De Soto, American Legion Post 253 in Festus and the Festus-Crystal City Conservation Club. A third-degree black belt in judo, he taught self-defense classes at Jefferson College and taught Hunter Safety Education courses for 25 years for the Missouri Conservation Department. He was born Dec. 18, 1936, in Flat River, the son of the late Grace Almira (Bloom) and Fred Johnson Ferdinand Bequette.
He is survived by his wife: Cathlene E. (Peterein) Bequette; four sons: Matthew Gene (Diane) Bequette of Farmington, Daniel Lane (Donna) Bequette of Robertsville, Douglas Wayne (Niki Ruhland) Bequette of Webster Groves and Jonathan Paul (Tiffany) Bequette of Imperial; two daughters: Emiliee Kaye (Dez) Bequette of Farmington and Sarah Elizabeth (Dominic) Withouse of De Soto; a son-in-law: Bernie Wurth of Glen Carbon, Ill.; 18 grandchildren: Stephen (Jennifer) Wurth, Carrie (Chad) Kraner, Caitlyn (Kris) Perry, Isaiah Wolfe, Jason Slama, Charles Withouse and Travis, Tyler, Trenton, Joshua, Ashley, Abigail, Clinton, Wyatt, Adaline, Alexander, Aliyah and Elloise Bequette; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter: Diana Wurth; two brothers: Edwin (the late Joyce) Bequette, and Bobby (the late Mary Lue) Bequette; and a sister: Evelyn (the late Carlton) Comte.
A memorial gathering is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the funeral home, officiated by Michael Peterein. Burial with full military honors is in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to the Missouri Conservation Department. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.