Eugen Roger Tornow
Life Member - Marines
Eugene "Gene” Roger Tornow, age 85, died on Friday, June 19, 2020 at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Church of St. Mary Immaculate Heart in Sioux Falls, with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls.
Eugene Roger Tornow was born on July 18, 1934 in Sioux Falls, SD to Carl and Adeline (Langerock) Tornow. He was raised and received his education in Sioux Falls, graduating from Washington High School in 1952. Gene then attended USD in Vermillion until enlisting into the United States Marine Corps on February 10, 1953. Gene proudly served in the Marine Corps until his honorable discharge on February 9, 1957. Gene then returned to Sioux Falls, SD and was united in marriage with Rose Marie Blair on August 10, 1957 in Epiphany, SD. Gene and Rose Marie made their home in Sioux Falls and were blessed with three sons, Steve, Mike and Jeff. Gene spent nearly forty years working as a Lineman and then Line Crew Foreman at Northern States Power, retiring in 1996.
Gene was a member of St. Mary Parish in Sioux Falls, Life Member & Past Commandant of Dakota Marine Detachment #659, Marine Corps League; Past Commander of American Legion Post #15; Life Member of VFW Post #628; Member of Marine Corps Association; Member of Military Order of Devil Dogs; Member of NRA; Member of Sioux Falls Veterans Council, Sioux Falls Chamber Military & Veteran’s Affairs Committee Member.
Gene's greatest pleasure was his wife, three sons, their families and all of his grandchildren. He also enjoyed hunting & spending time with friends and neighbors. Gene especially enjoyed being a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's Parish.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Rose Marie Tornow, Sioux Falls, SD; three sons, Steve (Lynelle) Tornow, Sioux Falls, SD, Mike (Thelene) Tornow, Villa Park, IL and Jeff (Nyla) Tornow, Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandchildren: Danielle Tornow, D’one (Brian) Hanisch, Elijah Tornow, Leah Tornow, Max Tornow, Rocky Tornow and Oscar Tornow; two great-grandchildren, Odin Hanisch and Marli Mae Hanisch; sister, Joyce Briggs, Roseville, MN; one sister-in-law, Fran Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD; and a host of other family members and friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Adeline Tornow; one brother, Marvin Tornow; brother-in-law, Bob Briggs and his special aunt, Ann VanEnter.
