Eugene “Gene” Wilber Lurz was born August 28, 1941, to Herbert and Ida (Schultz) Lurz, in Valentine, NE. He grew up near and attended elementary school in Crookston, NE. Gene graduated from Valentine High School in 1959.
In 1965, Gene was drafted into the Army and trained as a helicopter mechanic. He served in Vietnam from September of 1965 to December of 1966 and was attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Gene was very proud of his military service and often shared tales of his experiences there. He was a lifetime member of the VFW in Valentine. In the summer of 2025, he was honored when a family friend created and presented him with a Quilt of Valor for his service.
Gene married Thelma Hesselgesser on April 13, 1968, in Valentine, NE. They lived in Nebraska for their first three years together and then moved to the rural South Dakota community of Lakeview (11 miles north of Crookston, NE) where they ranched and raised their family. Gene was a proud father to three children. Christopher Dean, born in 1969; Kevin, born in 1973; and Colleen Kay, born in 1975. Gene loved the country life and everything that came with it. When he and Thelma weren’t tending to the cattle and pastures, haying, or growing a bountiful garden, he was often still doing something outdoors. Gene was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman and enjoyed making and telling stories of those fun times with neighbors, friends, and family. Many happy memories were spent vacationing in the Black Hills, or staying closer to home going to one of his favorite lakes in Todd County or Merritt Reservoir.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Ida (Schultz) Lurz; wife Thelma Lurz; one infant son, Kevin; infant sister, Viola; sister Arlene and brotherin- law Gene Wilson of Kissimmee, FL; brothers Melvin, Carl, and Harold, all of rural Crookston, NE; and his brother-in-law Doyle Luttrell, of Tipton, IN.
Gene is survived by son Christopher and wife Lori (Fowler) Lurz of Valentine, NE and grandsons Alex (31) of Norfolk, NE and Kyle (25) and wife Brianna (Henkenius); great-granddaughter Lindsey (1) of Valentine, NE; daughter Colleen and husband Eric Johnson of Sioux Falls, SD and grandsons Nathan (25) of Cincinnati, OH and Clayton (22) of Sioux Falls, SD; sister Ruby Luttrell of Tipton, IN; sister-in-law Sandy (Pedersen) Lurz of Valentine, NE; brotherin- law Clyde and wife MaryAnn (Barber) Hesselgesser of Lake Jackson, TX; and sister-in-law Maryetta (Hesselgesser) Smith of Lake Jackson, TX.
Memorial service for Gene Lurz was held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lakeview Christian Reformed Church. The inurnment followed at Lakeview Cemetery.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.
