Gene Eaton was born on May 26, 1925, on a farm near Broadwater, a windswept little town on the Platte River where miles separate individual households, and north, in the sand hills, the solitude is as profound as any on the continent. It was here that Gene's boyhood was informed by pure Americanism, direct and honest, spacious and easy going. His mother Anna Marie died when he was thirteen, leaving his older sister Pauline and father Paul to provide care, guidance and inspiration. Just down the river, while traveling with the Broadwater High School basketball team to Lisco, Gene met and fell in love with a cheerleader from the opposing team, Marjorie Olson, "the most beautiful girl in the world."
As World War II escalated, stretching its grips on every U.S. citizen, Gene graduated from high school in 1942 and enrolled in Chadron State College. With almost every branch of military on campus to recruit for the war effort, Gene signed on with the Navy Air Corp, as soon as he turned 18, where he served his country till 1945. In quiet moments, pondering his fate, he would think of Marjorie and vowed that one day he would return and ask her to marry him.
After the war Gene returned to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, to be near Marjorie, who was also enrolled there. As a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity Gene gave Marjorie his "pin" and a year later they were engaged and married in Lisco, on August 23, 1947. Both graduated in 1948, Gene with a BA in Business, leading to a position with the National Bank of Commerce and the beginning of a distinguished career in banking.
Through the years, during his ascension to Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee for NBC, Gene provided leadership to the community as Chairman of the Lincoln United Campaign, President of the Lincoln Lions Club, and Trustee of the University Nebraska Foundation, among others. He was recognized for his service with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Young Man Award.
In 1971, after 24 years with NBC, Gene resigned to concentrate on his entrepreneurial interests including financial institutions and shopping centers in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. He served as Chairman of the Bank and Trust Plaza Co., First National Bank of Estes Park, Colorado, Bettendorf (Iowa) Bank and Trust Co., First National Bank of Westminster, Colorado, and Fullerton National Bank. He served on the board of directors of the Oak Creek Valley Bank of Valparaiso and Nebraska State Bank of Oshkosh. He also served on the board of directors of IBP Inc., and First National Bank of Lincoln and its successor FirsTier. In 1999, the Nebraska Bankers Association honored him for his more than 50 years of service to the industry.
Gene's most important achievement was his family. One of his recent goals was to be present for his 60th wedding anniversary in August, which he accomplished. His love, kindness, affection and commitment will be forever cherished.
Loved Ones, enduring legacy: Wife: Marjorie Ann (Olson) Eaton; Sister: Pauline (Eaton) Heil married to Paul Heil, son John Heil and family; Children: Stephen J. Eaton - Lincoln, Neb. married to Guinevere, daughters Erika, Willa, William C. Eaton - Sedona, Ariz. married to Christine, daughter Taylor, son Walker, Barbara C. (Eaton) Jensen - Lincoln, Neb. partner Bill Hendricks, sons, Caleb and Joel, Susan J. (Eaton) Letheby - Lincoln, Neb. married to Michael, daughters Jessica, Allison, son Adam, Jonathan B. Eaton - Lyons, Colo. married to Tracey, sons Jackson and Nicholas; Great Grandchildren: Lauren daughter of Erika and Nick Elwanger; Relatives in law: Bill and Joyce Olson and family, Charles and Barbara Ferguson and family, Tom and Cynthia Olson and family.
Source for middle name:
Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970
Contributor: DEW (48458626)
As World War II escalated, stretching its grips on every U.S. citizen, Gene graduated from high school in 1942 and enrolled in Chadron State College. With almost every branch of military on campus to recruit for the war effort, Gene signed on with the Navy Air Corp, as soon as he turned 18, where he served his country till 1945. In quiet moments, pondering his fate, he would think of Marjorie and vowed that one day he would return and ask her to marry him.
After the war Gene returned to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, to be near Marjorie, who was also enrolled there. As a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity Gene gave Marjorie his "pin" and a year later they were engaged and married in Lisco, on August 23, 1947. Both graduated in 1948, Gene with a BA in Business, leading to a position with the National Bank of Commerce and the beginning of a distinguished career in banking.
Through the years, during his ascension to Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee for NBC, Gene provided leadership to the community as Chairman of the Lincoln United Campaign, President of the Lincoln Lions Club, and Trustee of the University Nebraska Foundation, among others. He was recognized for his service with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Young Man Award.
In 1971, after 24 years with NBC, Gene resigned to concentrate on his entrepreneurial interests including financial institutions and shopping centers in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. He served as Chairman of the Bank and Trust Plaza Co., First National Bank of Estes Park, Colorado, Bettendorf (Iowa) Bank and Trust Co., First National Bank of Westminster, Colorado, and Fullerton National Bank. He served on the board of directors of the Oak Creek Valley Bank of Valparaiso and Nebraska State Bank of Oshkosh. He also served on the board of directors of IBP Inc., and First National Bank of Lincoln and its successor FirsTier. In 1999, the Nebraska Bankers Association honored him for his more than 50 years of service to the industry.
Gene's most important achievement was his family. One of his recent goals was to be present for his 60th wedding anniversary in August, which he accomplished. His love, kindness, affection and commitment will be forever cherished.
Loved Ones, enduring legacy: Wife: Marjorie Ann (Olson) Eaton; Sister: Pauline (Eaton) Heil married to Paul Heil, son John Heil and family; Children: Stephen J. Eaton - Lincoln, Neb. married to Guinevere, daughters Erika, Willa, William C. Eaton - Sedona, Ariz. married to Christine, daughter Taylor, son Walker, Barbara C. (Eaton) Jensen - Lincoln, Neb. partner Bill Hendricks, sons, Caleb and Joel, Susan J. (Eaton) Letheby - Lincoln, Neb. married to Michael, daughters Jessica, Allison, son Adam, Jonathan B. Eaton - Lyons, Colo. married to Tracey, sons Jackson and Nicholas; Great Grandchildren: Lauren daughter of Erika and Nick Elwanger; Relatives in law: Bill and Joyce Olson and family, Charles and Barbara Ferguson and family, Tom and Cynthia Olson and family.
Source for middle name:
Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970
Contributor: DEW (48458626)
Gene Eaton was born on May 26, 1925, on a farm near Broadwater, a windswept little town on the Platte River where miles separate individual households, and north, in the sand hills, the solitude is as profound as any on the continent. It was here that Gene's boyhood was informed by pure Americanism, direct and honest, spacious and easy going. His mother Anna Marie died when he was thirteen, leaving his older sister Pauline and father Paul to provide care, guidance and inspiration. Just down the river, while traveling with the Broadwater High School basketball team to Lisco, Gene met and fell in love with a cheerleader from the opposing team, Marjorie Olson, "the most beautiful girl in the world."
As World War II escalated, stretching its grips on every U.S. citizen, Gene graduated from high school in 1942 and enrolled in Chadron State College. With almost every branch of military on campus to recruit for the war effort, Gene signed on with the Navy Air Corp, as soon as he turned 18, where he served his country till 1945. In quiet moments, pondering his fate, he would think of Marjorie and vowed that one day he would return and ask her to marry him.
After the war Gene returned to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, to be near Marjorie, who was also enrolled there. As a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity Gene gave Marjorie his "pin" and a year later they were engaged and married in Lisco, on August 23, 1947. Both graduated in 1948, Gene with a BA in Business, leading to a position with the National Bank of Commerce and the beginning of a distinguished career in banking.
Through the years, during his ascension to Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee for NBC, Gene provided leadership to the community as Chairman of the Lincoln United Campaign, President of the Lincoln Lions Club, and Trustee of the University Nebraska Foundation, among others. He was recognized for his service with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Young Man Award.
In 1971, after 24 years with NBC, Gene resigned to concentrate on his entrepreneurial interests including financial institutions and shopping centers in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. He served as Chairman of the Bank and Trust Plaza Co., First National Bank of Estes Park, Colorado, Bettendorf (Iowa) Bank and Trust Co., First National Bank of Westminster, Colorado, and Fullerton National Bank. He served on the board of directors of the Oak Creek Valley Bank of Valparaiso and Nebraska State Bank of Oshkosh. He also served on the board of directors of IBP Inc., and First National Bank of Lincoln and its successor FirsTier. In 1999, the Nebraska Bankers Association honored him for his more than 50 years of service to the industry.
Gene's most important achievement was his family. One of his recent goals was to be present for his 60th wedding anniversary in August, which he accomplished. His love, kindness, affection and commitment will be forever cherished.
Loved Ones, enduring legacy: Wife: Marjorie Ann (Olson) Eaton; Sister: Pauline (Eaton) Heil married to Paul Heil, son John Heil and family; Children: Stephen J. Eaton - Lincoln, Neb. married to Guinevere, daughters Erika, Willa, William C. Eaton - Sedona, Ariz. married to Christine, daughter Taylor, son Walker, Barbara C. (Eaton) Jensen - Lincoln, Neb. partner Bill Hendricks, sons, Caleb and Joel, Susan J. (Eaton) Letheby - Lincoln, Neb. married to Michael, daughters Jessica, Allison, son Adam, Jonathan B. Eaton - Lyons, Colo. married to Tracey, sons Jackson and Nicholas; Great Grandchildren: Lauren daughter of Erika and Nick Elwanger; Relatives in law: Bill and Joyce Olson and family, Charles and Barbara Ferguson and family, Tom and Cynthia Olson and family.
Source for middle name:
Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970
Contributor: DEW (48458626)
As World War II escalated, stretching its grips on every U.S. citizen, Gene graduated from high school in 1942 and enrolled in Chadron State College. With almost every branch of military on campus to recruit for the war effort, Gene signed on with the Navy Air Corp, as soon as he turned 18, where he served his country till 1945. In quiet moments, pondering his fate, he would think of Marjorie and vowed that one day he would return and ask her to marry him.
After the war Gene returned to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, to be near Marjorie, who was also enrolled there. As a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity Gene gave Marjorie his "pin" and a year later they were engaged and married in Lisco, on August 23, 1947. Both graduated in 1948, Gene with a BA in Business, leading to a position with the National Bank of Commerce and the beginning of a distinguished career in banking.
Through the years, during his ascension to Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee for NBC, Gene provided leadership to the community as Chairman of the Lincoln United Campaign, President of the Lincoln Lions Club, and Trustee of the University Nebraska Foundation, among others. He was recognized for his service with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Young Man Award.
In 1971, after 24 years with NBC, Gene resigned to concentrate on his entrepreneurial interests including financial institutions and shopping centers in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. He served as Chairman of the Bank and Trust Plaza Co., First National Bank of Estes Park, Colorado, Bettendorf (Iowa) Bank and Trust Co., First National Bank of Westminster, Colorado, and Fullerton National Bank. He served on the board of directors of the Oak Creek Valley Bank of Valparaiso and Nebraska State Bank of Oshkosh. He also served on the board of directors of IBP Inc., and First National Bank of Lincoln and its successor FirsTier. In 1999, the Nebraska Bankers Association honored him for his more than 50 years of service to the industry.
Gene's most important achievement was his family. One of his recent goals was to be present for his 60th wedding anniversary in August, which he accomplished. His love, kindness, affection and commitment will be forever cherished.
Loved Ones, enduring legacy: Wife: Marjorie Ann (Olson) Eaton; Sister: Pauline (Eaton) Heil married to Paul Heil, son John Heil and family; Children: Stephen J. Eaton - Lincoln, Neb. married to Guinevere, daughters Erika, Willa, William C. Eaton - Sedona, Ariz. married to Christine, daughter Taylor, son Walker, Barbara C. (Eaton) Jensen - Lincoln, Neb. partner Bill Hendricks, sons, Caleb and Joel, Susan J. (Eaton) Letheby - Lincoln, Neb. married to Michael, daughters Jessica, Allison, son Adam, Jonathan B. Eaton - Lyons, Colo. married to Tracey, sons Jackson and Nicholas; Great Grandchildren: Lauren daughter of Erika and Nick Elwanger; Relatives in law: Bill and Joyce Olson and family, Charles and Barbara Ferguson and family, Tom and Cynthia Olson and family.
Source for middle name:
Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970
Contributor: DEW (48458626)
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