Gene 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 11, 2025.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14, from 5-7 p.m. with Rosary at 7 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller. Graveside services will take place Thursday, May 15, at 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Schaller.

Prior to the graveside service a tractor procession will start at 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 4-7 p.m., the family invites everyone to the family farm for food and a time of remembrance in honor of Red Huelman.

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 WWII, when his older brothers had gone off to war. He was just eight or nine 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 four 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 storyteller, an ardent parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic church, and a proud citizen of Schaller. 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 preceded 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) and Gene “Bear” (Alice); his grandchildren: Brandon (Rachel), Megan and Justin (Alyssa); great-grandchildren: Maren, Rhys and Gwen; stepchildren, Debra Keever (Mike) and John Atkinson (Colleen); stepgrandkids: Eric Marcks (Kelsey), Angela Marcks, James Brucker (Rachel) and Emily Brucker.