Eugene was born on November 22, 1923, in Cave Creek, Texas, and grew up in nearby Fredericksburg. He passed away November 5, 2014 in California.
His parents were Fred and Caecilia Sagebiel Hannemann, whose parents were all German immigrants. Gene was only five years old, and had five older and three younger siblings, when his father suddenly died. His amazingly resourceful mother, with the help of the older children, managed three businesses which provided their livelihood and kept them together as a family during the years of the Great Depression. A grandfather, Emil Hannemann, who was both a pastor and doctor, helped provide medical and spiritual care. The children knew they were loved and despite their hardships, had a happy childhood.
They attended public schools where they learned and spoke English, although German was the language of choice at home. In high school, Gene participated in extra-curricular activities, including band and football.
After his graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and immediately left for basic training and was soon on his way to the South Pacific. His tour of duty began in Brisbane, Australia. Since he had taken typing, he was assigned to the Admiral’s Office of the 7th Fleet. As action moved toward MacArthur’s invasion of the Philippines, the Navy was assigned to bases in New Guinea.
On July 22, 1950, Gene married the love of his life, Margaret Rebecca Burnette in Cullowhee, North Carolina. They were blessed with 63 years of marriage, as she preceded him to heaven on April 12, 2014.
Gene’s higher education began in 1946 at Western Carolina University for two years and continued at Texas Lutheran University in 1948 where he received his BA degree in history in 1950. He attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa from 1952 to 1956 and received a Master of Divinity. Following his ordination in June, 1956, he entered the Air Force as a chaplain. Stateside assignments included Ardmore, Oklahoma; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Wurtsmith, Michigan; and Vandenberg, California. Foreign assignments were Hokkaido and Misawa, Japan; Evereux, France; and Wiesbaden, Germany. In 1975, Gene retired from the military and served four years as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in King City, CA and eight years at Lutheran Church of the Holy Cross in Ojai, CA. On December 31, 1988, he retired once again, and he and Margaret moved to Sun City, CA and became members of Faith Lutheran Church. After a year, he was hired as a visitation pastor and served for about three years. He volunteered as a hospital chaplain until 2007 when they moved to University Village in Thousand Oaks. They became members of Ascension Lutheran Church. Through the years, he was a member of the Lions and Retired Military Officers. Gene was an extraordinary man of faith, character, honor, strength, integrity, humility, commitment, humor and service - the list goes on. He would never say he was extraordinary - just a man who has "had a good tour of this life.”
Gene was preceded in death by six brothers and two sisters and is survived by one brother, August Hannemann; children, Kathleen (John Lenhardt), Neil, Anita (Morley Cohen) and Sue (Terry Gill); and grandchildren Amy and Kyle (Krista) Lenhardt, Stephanie & Rachel Gill, Emma & Jared Cohen, Kailen, Madelyn, Jaclyn and Ethan Hannemann.