Funeral Details

Eugene (Gene) A. Meyer died beside the woman of his dreams at age 98, just a few weeks after celebrating their 77th anniversary side-by-side in bed together with a champagne toast.

Gene was born in Albany Park to Mary and Isadore Meyer. He had two siblings, Marvin and Sylvia. At age 15, his cousin introduced him to Evelyn Schmidt at Von Steuben High School. That’s when Gene and Evelyn's love story began.

Gene attended the University of Illinois. Before his sophomore year in 1942, he joined the Army’s Enlisted Reserve Corps during World War II, where he was placed as a navigator in the Army’s Air Corps. It was his responsibility to calculate how his B17-bomber would arrive at a certain destination, relying on compasses, protractors, dividers and the stars.

Evelyn visited him at every military base. The couple wed on December 30, 1944, at his base in Louisiana. After the war ended, Gene returned to the University of Illinois to get his architecture degree. With it, he’d start his own design firm that specialized in commercial real estate. His career also included designing federal buildings for the government and teaching architecture classes at Oakton College.

Gene designed the couple’s home in Highland Park, which became the epicenter of the Meyer family. It’s where their three children, Ken, Donna and Rick were raised, and where their six grandchildren, Rob, Scott, Danny, Josh, Carly and Brendan would sleep over and play. Gene, a.k.a “Papa,” even built a train set equipped with buildings and mountains and stores, with each object named after one of his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. It was a literal representation of the kingdom he and Evelyn created.

Gene and Evelyn were founding members of Congregation B’nai Torah. They loved antiquing and attending garage sales so much that they ran their own antique kiosk well into their 80s. They traveled the world, from China to Europe, with their favorite country being England. On many of these trips, Gene would bring his painting materials, because instead of buying a postcard or taking a photo, he’d paint watercolor pictures for Evelyn.

Gene was a sweetheart; soft-spoken and kind. He was a role model to his family. He was the reliable home repair guy for all of his children. Up until he passed, he relished Saturday brunches with his childhood friends at Denny’s. He followed his beloved Cubs. He enjoyed smoking cigars on his patio and reading the newspaper.

Five weeks ago, Gene and Evelyn were both placed in hospice care. That meant Gene spent his final days right where he wanted to be. At home, right beside the woman of his dreams.

Gene is survived by his wife Evelyn, his children Ken (April), Donna (Fred) Entin, Rick (Avis), six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held on Monday, January 24 at noon. Family and friends may view the funeral live at Eugene’s web page on www.chicagojewishfunerals.com, or anytime after the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250-0301, www.dav.org. Or the American Heart Association, P.O 840692, Dallas, Texas, 75284-0692, www.heart.org/donate.