Eugene "Gene" Henry Hermesch passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the age of 79. He was born on April 17, 1944, in Seneca, KS, and was a resident of Baton Rouge, LA. Gene graduated from Saints Peter and Paul High School in Seneca, KS. He served in the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam War, earning the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon Bar, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medal. Gene worked at Exxon Mobil for 30 years, where he held a few different positions including Instructor for the Apprentices Program, Exxon Primary Fire Squad team member and retired as the Operational/Mechanical Supervisor of the Vistalon Finishing Unit. In his younger years, he earned his private pilot license and enjoyed flying very much. He was a coach for youth league tee ball and softball, a member of the LSU Track & Field Officials Association, and he volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America. He loved visiting his family and friends in his home state of Kansas, and spending time with his immediate family in Baton Rouge. He was a lifelong hunter and had very fond memories of bringing his son, Jason, and his grandchildren hunting. He was a charter member of the Good Life Hunting Club where he hunted for almost 40 years. Gene is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Gale Buff Hermesch; children, Jason Hermesch and fiancée, Jessica Courtney, Kimberly Hermesch Thickman and husband, Jesse, and Laura Hermesch Bonham and husband, James; grandchildren, Jordan and Dylan Thickman, Alyssa Hermesch Ossing and husband, Dave, Jayci and Megan Hermesch, and Brooks and Emily Bonham; great-grandson, Jay Thickman; sisters, Elaine Stephens and husband, Bill, Sharon Haverkamp and husband, Dan, and Marsha Hulsing and husband, Don; and numerous nieces and nephews who he loved spending time with. Gene is preceded in death by his father, William Hermesch; his mother, Helen Wessel Hermesch; and brother, Galen Hermesch. Pallbearer are his grandsons, Jordan Thickman, Dylan Thickman, and Brooks Bonham, nephew, Tommy Hodges, and great-nephews, Hunter Hodges and Hayden Hodges. Honorary pallbearer is his great-grandson, Jay Thickman.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gene's name to https://www.fisherhouse.org, which serves military families. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Sanjay Juneja and staff, nurses at the Mary Bird Perkins Infusion Center, nurses at St. Joseph Hospice and The Carpenter House.