Eugene Ralph Shimel

Gene Shimel died on February 26, 2019 after several years of fighting kidney disease. As he wished, his death was peaceful and he was surrounded by his family.

Gene was born in Denver, Colorado on November 16, 1934. His parents, Ralph and Helen (Wendelin) Shimel completed their family with Gene’s brother Jerry and sister Janet. He was raised in Denver and especially enjoyed time with his grandparents, Frank “Bunks” and Dorothy Wendelin and his aunts Eileen and Doreen Wendelin.

Gene attended North High School and graduated from West High School. He served in the Army and then attended the University of Denver, graduating with his degree in business. He and his wife, Margo (Magor) were married and parents by that time, so Gene worked his way through college and received a great deal of support from Margo. His diploma could have reasonably been issued in both of their names!

After a few years at Martin Marietta (which included working on the Mars program), Gene went to work at IBM and the family moved to Longmont. Work was balanced with fly fishing and camping as well as duck and goose hunting. Additionally, Gene was elected to the Longmont City Council and spent a great deal of time working to improve the community.

Gene, Margo, and their youngest daughter Carrie moved to Ridgefield, CT when he transferred to the IBM headquarters in White Plains, New York. Fortunately, he was able to return to the Boulder plant and finished his career there in 1987.

Shortly before his retirement, Gene made perhaps the biggest decision of his life and stopped drinking. His involvement in the Alcoholics Anonymous program has continued; he received his 35 year coin shortly before his death. He formed important relationships and made major life changes with the support of the AA community and was able to sponsor many other recovering alcoholics.

Retirement was the most enjoyable time of life for Gene. He spent a great deal of time fly fishing throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia. He became a certified Orvis instructor and loved teaching others the art of fly casting. He also became a fishing guide in Montana and could shoot the breeze with the best of them in the fly shops in the area.

Gene and Margo’s four daughters will each carry different traditions to the next generations. Some play cards and cribbage, some fly fish, and some birdwatch. All four have great memories of their fishing and camping experiences with Gene and Margo, share their parents’ love of Colorado and the outdoors and have passed that love to their own families. Three of their daughters live in the area: Lisa (John Davis) in Aurora, Julie (Wayne) Church in Lyons, and Carrie (Mike Weingardt) in Loveland, while Traci lives in Pearland, TX. Gene was fortunate to have close relationships with his nephew, Neil Magor and his son-in-law, Wayne Church. He shared many memorable days of hunting and fishing with them.

Gene is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margo; their four daughters; his siblings Jerry (Susie) Shimel and Janet Shimel; his aunt, Eileen (Rudy) Cadorna; and six grandchildren including Adam and Justin Davis, Katie Church, Robin (Jeremy) Visbal, Cody Buehler, and Kenzi (Justin) Ferguson. He also leaves seven great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Longmont Dialysis Center for their five years of professional and compassionate care for Gene. Additionally, they thank Agape Healthcare for their guidance and support at the end of his life.

The family will host a celebration of Gene’s life on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501, and all are welcome. Gene requested no flowers. Those who are so inclined may make a contribution in his honor to Habitat for Humanity, www.stvrainhabitat.org, P.O. Box 333, Longmont, CO 80502 or to either of his two main AA clubs: The Triangle Club, 1117 Kimbark Street, Longmont, CO 80501 or New Beginnings, 1801 Sunset Place, Suite B, Longmont, CO 80501.

For anyone wanting to greet the family, they will receive friends starting at 10:15am, Saturday morning prior to the Celebration of Life ceremony. The family will also be available at a reception gathering immediately following the Celebration of Life ceremony in the Howe Mortuary Event room.