Eugene “Gene” Andrle 04/30/2025

Eugene “Gene” Joseph Andrle, 86, of River Falls, WI, died Wednesday, April 30, at United Hospital in St. Paul, MN due to complications from pneumonia.

On March 6, 1939, ‘God made a farmer’ and devoted family man. Born to the parents of Bohemian immigrants, Edward and Margaret Andrle in River Falls, WI, Gene was the third oldest of six children. Gene was born and raised in farm country, so it wasn’t surprising he had a deep appreciation and gratitude for farming, country land, his neighbors and animals. His life was spent living the values of honesty, gratitude, respect and responsibility; all serving as the cornerstones in every facet of his working, social and family life.

Gene was proud of his Czech Bohemian heritage and had a deep admiration for his ancestors. A descendant of the 1860 Cherma migrant settlement in southeast River Falls, Gene’s youth centered around his family, faith, neighbors and most notably, the family farming. This continued throughout his life’s entirety. He valued simplicity and led his life with a helping hand, putting others first.

Along with family, he would walk the 3-miles to the St. Mary’s church in Big River. Eventually, the Catholic congregation of St. Martins was formed in 1892 and a new church was built by the Cherma immigrants – St. Martin’s Cherma. This is where his deep faith was rooted. He spent his childhood going to Donegal school and graduated from River Falls High School. He met the love of his life, Donna, at Proch’s Ballroom in Ellsworth, WI and they wed on September 30, 1961. They would spend a 63-year partnership together, raising a family and living in the home and on the land where Gene was raised.

Gene’s working life included a 45+ year span at Armour & Company in South St. Paul, MN and 3M Chemolite in Cottage Grove, MN. He rarely missed work, and for several years never called in sick or missed a day.

Despite working long hours and shifts, he continued what became the true work of his life on his 40-acre hobby farm. Working in the fields, raising animals and maintaining his machinery, including his prized Allis-Chalmers tractors, was at the forefront of his life. His hands were always busy building or fixing.  Throughout his life, he raised Simmental beef cattle and swine and had several German Shepherd and Collie farm dogs. He, along with his wife, supported his children’s 4-H animal projects throughout a 15+ year span of exhibiting them at the Pierce County Fair.

Throughout his life and retirement, Gene continued to enjoy his farm, mowing the lawn, coaching Town-n-Country 4-H club softball, family camping and weekends on Big Sand and Balsam Lakes in northern Wisconsin, his grandchildren, the Green Bay Packers, Duke college basketball, woodworking and his wife’s hearty farm cooking and baking.

As of recent, Gene and his wife had resided within the independent senior living community at The Sycamore in River Falls. There he enjoyed endless cups of coffee, donuts and brought his jovial and joking camaraderie to the workers and residents.

He was a devoted husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa and neighbor. Gene was known for his kind nature and generosity and was blessed with a strong handshake and humble heart.

Gene is survived by his devoted wife of 63-years Donna Andrle (nee Roatch), Sons Todd (Lisa) Andrle, Mark (Laure) Andrle, Michael (Trevor) Andrle, and daughter Tammy (Bradley) Pitzen, grandchildren Erika (Isaac) Hall, Alex Andrle, Abigail Andrle, Jacob (Melissa) Andrle, Zachary Pitzen, Sy Pitzen and Afton Hagerman-Andrle, Great-grandchildren Oscar Hall and Etta Hall, his sisters Charlotte (Butch) Bourasa and Alice (Ben) Nibbe, sister-in-law Mary (Larry) Hines and a loving list of cousins, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Margaret Andrle, sisters Marie (Eddie) Thyen, Mildred (Jerry) Johnson and brother Dennis (Patricia) Andrle, brother and sister-in-laws Wayne (Sharon) Roatch, Richard (Kathy) Roatch, and Lamoine (Jan) Roatch) as well as, infant siblings and other relatives.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, May 5, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Bridget Catholic Church (211 E Division St.) in River Falls, WI.  Visitation was held on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 3:00-6:00 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (805 E Division St.) in River Falls and also on Monday from 10:00-11:00 am at the church. Interment was in the St. Martin’s Cherma Cemetery in River Falls.