Gene Daniels

Gene George Daniels, 85, of Great Falls, a retired builder, died of natural causes on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at a local care facility.A gathering of friends will be held at Schnider Funeral Home on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be Monday, June 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Shoshone City Cemetery, Idaho. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Gene George Daniels, a veteran of World War II, was born a triplet on October 12, 1926 in Shoshone, Idaho to William and Mildred Daniels.One sibling soon passed away and Gene and his brother Jack were called The Twins.Gene was the youngest of the eight surviving children.Gene served with his five brothers in World War II.Because of their German heritage, all the brothers except Gene served in the Pacific Arena.Gene served in Europe as his twin was sent to the Pacific.He was wounded in a mine field accident shortly after the war and suffered chronic pain throughout his adult life.He married Frances Young in 1949.They raised four children in a nurturing and loving home.They moved to Belt, Montana in 1952 and to Great Falls in 1959 where Gene supported the family as a carpenter specializing in finish wood work.He eventually had his own construction company and built many fine homes in and around Great Falls. When Frances retired after 28 years with the Great Falls "public" Schools, they moved to Shoshone where Gene worked as a city/county building inspector.Gene and Frances were generous with the town of Shoshone and in 1998 Gene was awarded Man of the Year for his philanthropy. His beloved wife passed away in 2003 and Gene moved back to Great Falls in 2008 where he lived until his passing.An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Gene was an extraordinary hunter and fisherman.He loved camping and spending time in the beautiful outdoors.He is survived by his daughters, Linda (Dan) Donovan of Great Falls and Debra (Jimmy) Bodkins of Seattle, WA; sons Gene Daniels of Boise, ID and Bob Daniels of Kalispell; sister, Darlene Orgill of Blackfoot, ID; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.He is preceded in death by his wife, Frances; his sister, Ruth; and his brothers Jim, Art, Earl, Bill and Jack. Condolences may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com