Eugene A. Marks

Eugene Allan Marks, 91, passed away on October 13, 2021 following a five-year struggle with dementia. He lived gracefully with the disease for the last few years at Wisconsin Veteran’s Home at King. He was born on August 19, 1930, in Brooklyn, NY. Eugene was the son of the late Arthur and Birdie Max. On April 7, 1957, Eugene married Arlene N. Kaplan and they were blessed with two children, one son-in-law, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

The oldest of two children, Eugene grew up in Brooklyn, NY and helped his family out during the latter years of the great depression. He learned his incredible work ethic then, and eventually became the owner of a leather store in Manhattan. He commuted to work via train (1 ½ hours each way) yet always managed to be home for dinner by 5:30 pm.

As a young man, he was proud to serve in the Army, and was especially fond of the years he spent in Germany. However, because of his humble nature, he didn’t talk about it much. He had a great love for reading the classics, listening to opera music, playing baseball, and listening to games on the radio. After retirement, he took a job at the Great Neck Library, mostly to be first in line for the latest books. Later, he took writing classes to hone his skills, and I have the privilege of having these writings to treasure and pass on to future generations.

Eugene lived a full life of service, working hard for his family, serving in the military, caring for a special needs daughter, and spending time with family and friends. Even as his dementia made it necessary to move into a memory care facility after his wife Arlene’s death, he continued to maintain a cheerful attitude as his life changed dramatically.

Eugene is survived by his children: Sherri Marks, Caren (Todd) Hanson; grandchildren Christina (Stephen) Lawrence, Matthew Hanson, and Hope Hanson; sibling Donald (Lee) Marks, and many beloved nieces, nephews and other relatives. In addition to his parents, Eugene was preceded in death by Arlene, his wife of 59 years.

Eugene’s family is very grateful for the excellent, loving care provided by the staff at Wisconsin Veteran’s Home at King during the past five years. His family is also thankful for the wonderful help provided by ThedaCare Hospice for the past week.