Gene A. Coney

Gene A. Coney, 89, of Dunlap, died after an extended illness on July 27, 2022 at the Center for Hospice Care in Mishawaka, IN. Gene was born in LaGrange, Indiana on April 26, 1933 to the late Harry and Myrtle Coney. They raised Gene and his sisters in Elkhart where he graduated from Elkhart High School.

Gene is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Lois (neé Kime) of Elkhart, Indiana. They had four children together. Mark (Susan) Coney of Kalamazoo, MI; Beth (Pablo) Gonzalez of Elkhart, IN; David (Amy) of Bristol, who died in 2021, and Jeffrey Scott, who died in infancy. Gene was the proud grandfather of Michael (Ashley) Coney and great-granddaughter Aria of Lugoff, SC; Jeffrey (Nikki) Coney and great-grandchildren Dylan, Tyler and Kaylyn of Sturgis, MI; Rusty (Courtney) Smith of Clarksville, TN and great-granddaughter Kyrrah; Christian (Karin) Smith of Duncan, OK and great-granddaughter Ember. He was a special grandfather to Trent (Kelly) Miller and their daughter Gracie; Ashley Horton and her son Noah; and Gavyn Pauszek. Gene is survived by his sisters Pat Ager of Rock Falls, IL and Linda Sedlock of Elkhart, IN, as well as a large number of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Gene worked at Kelly’s Grocery Store and Pittsburgh Paint, before spending a majority of his career at Mid-City Supply Co. in Elkhart. He retired after several decades in a variety of positions, but returned to run the candy stand and fill in as needed. He took great pleasure in serving the customers, appreciated the support of the New family, and enjoyed the annual steak fry, which he continued to attend, where he reminisced with the vendors and employees. Gene served as a volunteer for the Concord Township Fire Department for many years. He recalled the horror of the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado during an interview for the fiftieth anniversary in 2015. Despite the tragedies, the firefighters had many good times pulling pranks on each other and hosting the annual Jonah fish fry.

Gene loved his large extended family, especially the annual gatherings at Campbell Lake in Hesperia, MI where the fishing began before sunrise and the antics continued into the evening. Gene never met a stranger and had a story for every occasion. Just like many fisherman's tales, his stories often grew more elaborate with each telling. In addition to fishing, he enjoyed mushroom hunting and reading. He was an active member of the Dunlap United Methodist Church where he especially enjoyed the performances from The Helmsmen. 

Friends may visit from 4:30 to 7 pm on Friday July 29, 2022 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 and from 9 to 10 am Saturday July 30, 2022 at Dunlap United Methodist Church, 23674 U.S. 33, Elkhart, IN 46517 where a funeral service will be at 10 am with family cousin Bill Rapp officiating. A graveside service and burial will follow at Frame Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dunlap United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com

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