Gene John Kaefer's Obituary
Gene J. Kaefer passed away on November 27, 2017 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio on October 9, 1928 to Walter M. Kaefer and Sadie Williams Kaefer. Gene graduated from Hamilton High School in May of 1946 and immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corp. Following completion of his enlistment in 1949 he attended the Colorado School of Mines in Golden Colorado graduating in 1953 as a Petroleum Engineer. Upon graduation Gene joined Shell Oil as an Exploitation Engineer and began his professional career in the oilfields of Texas and Louisiana. In October of 1953 he married Beatrice Chase of Mentor, Ohio. During 1955 Gene joined Trunkline Gas Company, Houston, Texas. While in Houston, he served as a Lieutenant in the Army Reserve Program. Late in 1959, Gene decided to enter the Oilfield Equipment Manufacturing business by joining Parkersburg Rig and Reel in Coffeyville Kansas. He rose from Product Manager to General Manager of Parmac, a corporation that included Parkersburg. While in Coffeyville he was a member of Rotary. Gene joined FWI, a Tulsa company, in 1967 and rose to become President in 1972.During this time he served on the 1971 United Fund Campaign as Vice Chairman of the Industrial Division and was also active in Boy Scouts and the local alumni chapter of the Colorado School of Mines. From FWI he joined The John Zink Co. of Tulsa in 1974, as Director of Manufacturing and later was active in Zinks Overseas Operations. In 1978 Gene rejoined FWI which was now the Wheatley Pump and Valve Co. a Division of Geosource Inc. as Vice President and General Manager. Again he served on the 1980 United Fund Campaign as Vice Chairman of the Industrial Division. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions he later became a Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheatley TXT, a NASDAQ Company. Gene retired from the Company in 1994. Gene was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Electrical Engineers, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Phoenix Society Member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the Petroleum Club of Tulsa. He was a registered professional engineer in the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Travel, sailing and boating were his main hobbies. His wife, Beatrice, preceded him in death in 2007 after 53 years of marriage. Subsequently he met a friend from his college days, Mary Ann Dodson of El Paso Texas, and the two of them spent many happy times together. He is survived by a son Wes and wife Lorraine; a daughter Susan and husband Curtis Almen. He is also survived by five grandchildren; Jennifer with husband Curtis Campbell, Jessica with his great grandchild Jaida, Bonnie, Chase and Miranda. The family would like to thank the staff of Montereau Chateau for blessing Gene with their care. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the United Way @ http://www.tauw.org/tauw/default.asp There will be a visitation, from 4-6 p.m., Friday, December 1, 2017 at Floral Haven Funeral HomeFuneral Service will be 12:30 p.m., Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel
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