Eugene R. Machael

Eugene R. Machael, 74, died April 2 at Prairie Hills Living Center. Born to Eugene and Jeannette (Johnson) Machael, he was a lifelong resident of Clinton. He graduated from Parsons College and worked with his father at Machael Oil Company starting in 1962. Always energetic and entrepreneurial, he started two businesses—Clover Hills Appliance, and Machael Tire Center which he operated until 1988. He then worked as a sales engineer at Hubill and Republic Co. in the Quad Cities and Alliant Energy in Clinton. He was married to Kathleen with whom he had 3 children; 28 years ago he married his current wife, Carol. Gene took an active role in parenting his children, and especially enjoyed spending time on the river, boating and water-skiing, and taking the family on frequent vacations that his children still love to describe as being a very special time in their lives and always fun. Despite enjoying vacationing in Arizona in recent years, there was nowhere he preferred to be than in Clinton. Downtown Clinton was one of his passions; he worked for years to help revitalize the downtown–serving on Chamber committees, picking up trash on Saturdays, mowing Sally Findlay Park next to the Van Allen building, and always having an opinion. When he could no longer drive he asked to be driven downtown so he could walk through town with his beloved dog, Ellie, stopping at businesses to chat with everyone he saw. He seemed to know everyone and greeted as friends even those he didn’t know. Relationships were most important to him and he enjoyed the company of those with whom he worked and his customers. He measured all his actions for fairness, had a positive attitude, and his sense of humor was often apparent. He loved to be doing things—walking through Eagle Point Park, participating in community activities, biking or running in earlier years, mowing the lawn, driving through town in one of the many cars he owned—whether a TR3 or a battered pickup or a BMW. He leaves his wife, Carol, daughter Beth (Todd) Roehlk from Walcott, son, Jay from Muscatine, granddaughter, Cynthia Machael, and stepchildren, Bill (Amy) Fullerton, Edina,MN, Sandra (Paul) Joireman, Wheaton, IL, and Shannon (Dave) Leffler, Carlisle, PA, as well as step-grandchildren: Matt and Corinne Joireman, Forest and Hayden Edwards, and Maren and Simon Fullerton. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Gene. Visitation will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church Friday April 8, from 9-11 with funeral at 11 a.m. Friends and family are invited to lunch at Rastrelli’s Tuscany Room at noon to allow an opportunity to share memories and stories and celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the River Bluff Community Foundation’s Community Impact Endowment, P.O. Box 1152, Clinton, IA 52733. This fund benefits the Clinton community.

Eugene R. Machael

April 15, 1941 - April 2, 2016