Eugene R. Saunders, age 91, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2020, at the Monroe Clinic Hospice Home. He was born on January 1, 1929 in Monroe, the son of Edward and Mathilda (Sonderegger) Saunders.

On January 8, 1949, he was united in marriage to Lila Duerst at St. Victor Catholic Church. Gene farmed in the Town of New Glarus and served on the Board of Directors for the Farmers Grove Cheese Factory, New Glarus Feed & Fuel, and the New Glarus Stock Yards. On the farm and as a collector, Gene preferred Oliver Tractors. He was a member of the Swiss United Church of Christ in New Glarus.

Gene is survived by his wife, Lila; children, Vickie Winters, Bill (Deb Guyette) Saunders, and Laura (Pat) Nevil; grandchildren, Dawn (Joe) Cockroft, Nicole (Justin) Nevil-Oppliger, Troy (Lindsey) Nevil, Jesse (Hannah Taylor) Saunders; great-grandchildren, Greyson, Gibson, and Lila Nevil-Oppliger, Tenley and Treyton Nevil, Wyatt and Kalie Cockroft. He is further survived by a brother, Tom (Ann) Saunders; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Francis "Bob" Saunders and Richard Saunders; and four sisters, Theresa Phillips, Kathryn Cosgrove, Betty Busser, and infant, Leona.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, February 6, 2020, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Avenue, New Glarus, WI, with Pat Pluss officiating. Burial will be in the Swiss Church Cemetery. A visitation will precede the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Thursday, February 6, 2020, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home in New Glarus.

Memorials are suggested to the Monroe Clinic Hospice.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.