Eugene Clifford Akre was born May 3, 1914 in Garretson, South Dakota. His father, John T. Akre (1881 - 1949), was a Norwegian immigrant. His mother, Julia Birgitta Stormo Akre (1883 - 1954), was the American-born daughter of a Lutheran minister and his wife, both Norwegian immigrants.
In 1926, at age 12, Eugene began his apprenticeship with a German immigrant butcher. In 1932 he graduated from Garretson High School.
After high school graduation, Eugene went to the Washington, D.C. area, where he lived with his brother Ruben and his wife Verna in McLean, Virginia. Eugene attended George Washington University for perhaps a semester, but was unable to continue due to the Great Depression. He sought employment with the Federal government, eventually finding a job at the National Labor Relations Board. He later worked for the National Geodetic Survey.
In January 1936, Eugene met another Federal employee, Rose Mangin (1912 - 1989). They married on July 2, 1936 at Sacred Heart Church just off 16th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C. But there was no time to celebrate their marriage - Eugene went to work the next day.
Eugene and Rose had four children. Their eldest child, Rosemary Akre Shewan, died in 2012, while their three younger children (a daughter and two sons) are still living. Eugene and Rose raised their children in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
Eugene later worked as a butcher at Safeway in Washington and was president of his Meat Cutters Union local.
In 1942, Eugene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At nearly age 28, he completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From April to June 1945, while assigned to the First Marine Division (commanded by Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, USMC), Eugene saw combat in the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II. During the battle, he met a fellow marine, Denzil Nichols (1917 - 1990), and they became life-long friends. After the war, Eugene served in Tientsin, China, protecting Japanese POWs from retaliation by the Chinese. He was awarded the China Service Medal for his service in Tientsin. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946 with the rank of master sergeant.
In 1951, Eugene and Rose moved their family to Erie, Pennsylvania, Rose's hometown. From 1959 to 1974, they owned and operated Gene Akre Meats and Groceries, a small grocery store and butcher shop on the northwest corner of 23rd and Liberty Streets. One of the most popular items he sold was the sausage that he made himself, applying what he learned from his apprenticeship in Garretson.
Eugene's major leisure interest was sailing, and he enjoyed sailing his 30' sailboat, Gjøa (the Norwegian word for "beauty," which Eugene pronounced, "JIR-uh") on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The boat was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff (1890 - 1972) and built by Ted Paasch (1904 - 1988). Gjøa was christened in 1970 at the Erie Yacht Club by his granddaughter, Jean Shewan (1960 - 2005).
Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1994, he traveled to see Norway. Eugene stayed with his cousin, who lived in the house that his father, John T. Akre, had been born in in 1881.
Eugene died Oct 19, 1995. He is remembered for his community service to the Erie area over a 40 year period. On his gravestone are the words, "TAHK FOR AHLT," Norwegian for "Thanks for everything."
In 1926, at age 12, Eugene began his apprenticeship with a German immigrant butcher. In 1932 he graduated from Garretson High School.
After high school graduation, Eugene went to the Washington, D.C. area, where he lived with his brother Ruben and his wife Verna in McLean, Virginia. Eugene attended George Washington University for perhaps a semester, but was unable to continue due to the Great Depression. He sought employment with the Federal government, eventually finding a job at the National Labor Relations Board. He later worked for the National Geodetic Survey.
In January 1936, Eugene met another Federal employee, Rose Mangin (1912 - 1989). They married on July 2, 1936 at Sacred Heart Church just off 16th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C. But there was no time to celebrate their marriage - Eugene went to work the next day.
Eugene and Rose had four children. Their eldest child, Rosemary Akre Shewan, died in 2012, while their three younger children (a daughter and two sons) are still living. Eugene and Rose raised their children in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
Eugene later worked as a butcher at Safeway in Washington and was president of his Meat Cutters Union local.
In 1942, Eugene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At nearly age 28, he completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From April to June 1945, while assigned to the First Marine Division (commanded by Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, USMC), Eugene saw combat in the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II. During the battle, he met a fellow marine, Denzil Nichols (1917 - 1990), and they became life-long friends. After the war, Eugene served in Tientsin, China, protecting Japanese POWs from retaliation by the Chinese. He was awarded the China Service Medal for his service in Tientsin. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946 with the rank of master sergeant.
In 1951, Eugene and Rose moved their family to Erie, Pennsylvania, Rose's hometown. From 1959 to 1974, they owned and operated Gene Akre Meats and Groceries, a small grocery store and butcher shop on the northwest corner of 23rd and Liberty Streets. One of the most popular items he sold was the sausage that he made himself, applying what he learned from his apprenticeship in Garretson.
Eugene's major leisure interest was sailing, and he enjoyed sailing his 30' sailboat, Gjøa (the Norwegian word for "beauty," which Eugene pronounced, "JIR-uh") on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The boat was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff (1890 - 1972) and built by Ted Paasch (1904 - 1988). Gjøa was christened in 1970 at the Erie Yacht Club by his granddaughter, Jean Shewan (1960 - 2005).
Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1994, he traveled to see Norway. Eugene stayed with his cousin, who lived in the house that his father, John T. Akre, had been born in in 1881.
Eugene died Oct 19, 1995. He is remembered for his community service to the Erie area over a 40 year period. On his gravestone are the words, "TAHK FOR AHLT," Norwegian for "Thanks for everything."
Eugene Clifford Akre was born May 3, 1914 in Garretson, South Dakota. His father, John T. Akre (1881 - 1949), was a Norwegian immigrant. His mother, Julia Birgitta Stormo Akre (1883 - 1954), was the American-born daughter of a Lutheran minister and his wife, both Norwegian immigrants.
In 1926, at age 12, Eugene began his apprenticeship with a German immigrant butcher. In 1932 he graduated from Garretson High School.
After high school graduation, Eugene went to the Washington, D.C. area, where he lived with his brother Ruben and his wife Verna in McLean, Virginia. Eugene attended George Washington University for perhaps a semester, but was unable to continue due to the Great Depression. He sought employment with the Federal government, eventually finding a job at the National Labor Relations Board. He later worked for the National Geodetic Survey.
In January 1936, Eugene met another Federal employee, Rose Mangin (1912 - 1989). They married on July 2, 1936 at Sacred Heart Church just off 16th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C. But there was no time to celebrate their marriage - Eugene went to work the next day.
Eugene and Rose had four children. Their eldest child, Rosemary Akre Shewan, died in 2012, while their three younger children (a daughter and two sons) are still living. Eugene and Rose raised their children in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
Eugene later worked as a butcher at Safeway in Washington and was president of his Meat Cutters Union local.
In 1942, Eugene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At nearly age 28, he completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From April to June 1945, while assigned to the First Marine Division (commanded by Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, USMC), Eugene saw combat in the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II. During the battle, he met a fellow marine, Denzil Nichols (1917 - 1990), and they became life-long friends. After the war, Eugene served in Tientsin, China, protecting Japanese POWs from retaliation by the Chinese. He was awarded the China Service Medal for his service in Tientsin. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946 with the rank of master sergeant.
In 1951, Eugene and Rose moved their family to Erie, Pennsylvania, Rose's hometown. From 1959 to 1974, they owned and operated Gene Akre Meats and Groceries, a small grocery store and butcher shop on the northwest corner of 23rd and Liberty Streets. One of the most popular items he sold was the sausage that he made himself, applying what he learned from his apprenticeship in Garretson.
Eugene's major leisure interest was sailing, and he enjoyed sailing his 30' sailboat, Gjøa (the Norwegian word for "beauty," which Eugene pronounced, "JIR-uh") on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The boat was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff (1890 - 1972) and built by Ted Paasch (1904 - 1988). Gjøa was christened in 1970 at the Erie Yacht Club by his granddaughter, Jean Shewan (1960 - 2005).
Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1994, he traveled to see Norway. Eugene stayed with his cousin, who lived in the house that his father, John T. Akre, had been born in in 1881.
Eugene died Oct 19, 1995. He is remembered for his community service to the Erie area over a 40 year period. On his gravestone are the words, "TAHK FOR AHLT," Norwegian for "Thanks for everything."
In 1926, at age 12, Eugene began his apprenticeship with a German immigrant butcher. In 1932 he graduated from Garretson High School.
After high school graduation, Eugene went to the Washington, D.C. area, where he lived with his brother Ruben and his wife Verna in McLean, Virginia. Eugene attended George Washington University for perhaps a semester, but was unable to continue due to the Great Depression. He sought employment with the Federal government, eventually finding a job at the National Labor Relations Board. He later worked for the National Geodetic Survey.
In January 1936, Eugene met another Federal employee, Rose Mangin (1912 - 1989). They married on July 2, 1936 at Sacred Heart Church just off 16th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C. But there was no time to celebrate their marriage - Eugene went to work the next day.
Eugene and Rose had four children. Their eldest child, Rosemary Akre Shewan, died in 2012, while their three younger children (a daughter and two sons) are still living. Eugene and Rose raised their children in Arlington County, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
Eugene later worked as a butcher at Safeway in Washington and was president of his Meat Cutters Union local.
In 1942, Eugene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At nearly age 28, he completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. From April to June 1945, while assigned to the First Marine Division (commanded by Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, USMC), Eugene saw combat in the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II. During the battle, he met a fellow marine, Denzil Nichols (1917 - 1990), and they became life-long friends. After the war, Eugene served in Tientsin, China, protecting Japanese POWs from retaliation by the Chinese. He was awarded the China Service Medal for his service in Tientsin. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946 with the rank of master sergeant.
In 1951, Eugene and Rose moved their family to Erie, Pennsylvania, Rose's hometown. From 1959 to 1974, they owned and operated Gene Akre Meats and Groceries, a small grocery store and butcher shop on the northwest corner of 23rd and Liberty Streets. One of the most popular items he sold was the sausage that he made himself, applying what he learned from his apprenticeship in Garretson.
Eugene's major leisure interest was sailing, and he enjoyed sailing his 30' sailboat, Gjøa (the Norwegian word for "beauty," which Eugene pronounced, "JIR-uh") on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. The boat was designed by L. Francis Herreshoff (1890 - 1972) and built by Ted Paasch (1904 - 1988). Gjøa was christened in 1970 at the Erie Yacht Club by his granddaughter, Jean Shewan (1960 - 2005).
Twice, once in 1984 and again in 1994, he traveled to see Norway. Eugene stayed with his cousin, who lived in the house that his father, John T. Akre, had been born in in 1881.
Eugene died Oct 19, 1995. He is remembered for his community service to the Erie area over a 40 year period. On his gravestone are the words, "TAHK FOR AHLT," Norwegian for "Thanks for everything."
