Gene "Red" Huelman

Gene "Red" Huelman age 89, of Schaller, Iowa died Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller. Graveside services will take place Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Schaller. In lieu of flowers, donations will be used to honor Red's love of Schaller. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller is in charge of the arrangements. Prior to the graveside service a tractor procession will start at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller and go to the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. You are encouraged to bring your tractor and meet at the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. to proceed together or we will see you at the cemetery. Following the graveside service from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., the family invites everyone to the family farm for food and a time of remembrance in honor of Red Huelman. Gene Huelman – “Red” to those who have been around long enough to remember him with red hair, passed away on the morning of May 11th 2025. Gene was a good farmer, a good husband, and a good father. Some of Gene’s earliest memories were of helping his dad with the farm during WW II when his older brothers had gone off to war. He was just 8 or 9 years old at the time. By 16 he was already farming full time as he finished school. In 1953 he met his first wife Kay (Dahm) and they were married in 1955. They went on to have 4 children, Pat, Kent, Molly (Hunt) and Gene “Bear”. They raised a good crop of kids and 50 years of popcorn, beans, field corn and other assorted Iowa bounty. In 1994 Kay passed away from a long-term illness. Gene tried the bachelor life but it really wasn’t for him, he dated a bit and then met Marguerite Anne (Miller) the second love of his life. They were married in 2003. This brought Debra Keever and John Atkinson into the family. In addition to farming and child rearing, Gene was an artist, a creator, and he liked to tell a good story. He was a woodworker, metal worker and liked to work with cutting glass. His artistic and creative projects ranged from the very practical like a hydraulic lift he attached to the back of an MD Farmall to lift a rotary hoe, to the whimsical like his stained glass projects. Dad took great pride in his civic duties, his love for Schaller and all things popcorn. He was involved in Chamber of Commerce, Popcorn Days, founding member of the Schaller EMTs, School Board and Schaller City Council. The 50th Class Re-Union Float was one of his greatest joys. He also served outside Schaller with Art Galleries and the Train Museum. Dad loved to travel and met friends wherever he went; be it Pakistan, Churchill Canada, Alaska and many trips coast to coast. Upon retiring from farming, he shared his love of red tractors with his Farmall Tractor Train. Dad entertained young and old with his unique train of 15 tractors in descending size at many parades and events. So, we will conclude this obituary the way we started it. Gene was a good farmer, a good husband, a good father, a creator, a story teller, an ardent parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic church, and a proud citizen of Schaller Iowa. His family hopes that you have fond memories of Gene and if you do, please feel free to share them with us at redhuelman@schallertel.net. In lieu of flowers, donations will be used to honor Red’s love of Schaller. Dad was proceeded in death by his parents, siblings, and wife Kay. He is survived by wife Marguerite “Anne”; his children: Pat (Kathleen), Kent (Susan), Molly Hunt (Jeff), Gene “Bear” (Alice); his grandchildren: Brandon (Rachel), Megan, and Justin (Alyssa); Great Grandchildren: Maren, Rhys and Gwen; step children Debra Keever (Mike) and John Atkinson (Colleen), step grandkids, Eric Marcks (Kelsey), Angela Marcks, James Brucker (Rachel) and Emily Brucker.

Gene "Red" Huelman

June 17, 1935 - May 11, 2025