Gene Stokes

Gene Stokes April 22, 1922 - February 24, 2026 Gene was born on April 22, 1922, to Earl and Anna Stokes in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. At a young age, his family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Harding High School in 1940, where he met his first love, Phyllis Brandel, whom he later married. Gene and Phyllis adopted their daughter Judy in 1953 and their son Craig in 1954. Following high school, Gene attended the University of Minnesota for a short time before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served honorably for more than seven years, flying C-47 transport planes throughout Europe and Egypt. Gene was discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He was always busy and creative. While serving in the military, he began building his first home in White Bear Lake with the help of his father and father-in-law. The family lived there for many years before moving to New Brighton. Gene was a talented craftsman who built cabinets, bookshelves, patios, and porches, and completed additions to both his lake home on Bone Lake and his winter home in Sun City, Arizona. He was a frugal man; he saved leftover building material that he used on other projects. He never could pass up a garage sale, or anything left on the roadside if it was listed free! Gene developed a strong work ethic, which he passed on to his son and grandsons. His first job was delivering newspapers-morning and evening, Monday through Saturday, plus the Sunday edition. He often joked that at times he brought home more money than his father. He also worked as a caddy at Keller Golf Club, where he developed his lifelong love of golf, a passion he enjoyed well into his 90s. Gene's career included work at Montgomery Ward in St. Paul, followed by positions in design and sales at Mullery Paper BBox Company and Kaplan Paper Box Company. He later retired from Container Corporation of America. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Anna Stokes; a baby son; his wife, Phyllis; his 2nd wife Glynny; his daughter Judy; and many relatives and good friends. He leaves to celebrate his memory- his son Craig (Mary); grandsons Adam(Alyssa) and Josh(Lacey); great-grandchildren Amelia and Wilder; stepson Steve (Colleen) Novak; stepdaughter Nikki( Bob) Vandenberg; step grandchildren Natalie, Nick, Emily, and Ashley (Chris); and step-great grandson Oscar, Favorite cousin Lou Ann Stevens goddaughter Therese Hjelmgren and many friends. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 21 with visitation one hour prior at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 835 2nd Ave NW, New Brighton. Interment Fort Snelling. Memorials to American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Hillside Chapel 612-781-1999